Chapter19

Author's Note: Hope you found the Easter Eggs in the last chapter. The overseas Zootopia-like city Sherwood Forest is a tip of the hat to another Disney's anthropomorphic animal classic "Robin Hood" (which you must see if you haven't) – and a hint there are other Zootopia-like mammal cities besides Atlantea - and yes Melvin's rusty old truck is an inanimate "Mater" from "Cars". There are more classic Disney movie references here in this chapter.

…The Waterfront. 2 am ish…

Duke and Joe rode together in a car with darkened headlights. They were on the well-developed waterfront. Zootopia wasn't an ocean coast city, but had a deep and wide navigable river on which there was plenty of trade conducted. There was a light rain which made their trip into this dark, dreary, well worn area of the city more ominous, even if both of them were large mammals quite capable of their own defense..

"Over there, boss," Duke instructed and strained to see through the windshield. He pointed to an abandoned warehouse with a flickering orange light, which looked on the verge of burning out.

The rhino and camel got out, locked the car, and headed toward a freight elevator next to the warehouse. It looked broken, but with a key that Joe didn't know Duke had, they unlocked the elevator, entered, rolled the protective cage closed, and Duke inserted the key, pushed the 'down' button twice, then three times.

The freight elevator normally went down two levels, but they kept going when it seemed like it wasn't possible to go further. They were going well below the river level.

"This is quiet an elaborate set up," said Joe a little nervously.

While Joe had been associated with Species Purity Society members before and others like them because of his similar political views, this was the first time he had addressed their entire shadowy organization. He was grateful that Duke was the titular leader of this group, who had aligned with Joe some time ago.

Duke tried to assure Joe, "We can't be too safe."

They got out of the elevator to a huge darkened underground room full of mammals. He could hear numerous conversations and some rock music, making it seem like this was some kind of private concert. A bank of bright lights on the stage facing them made Joe and Duke squint and shield their eyes, making difficult to move forward. Joe could see that they were headed into a mass of nearly 200 of mammals, backlit with many different shapes and sizes of heads, necks, arms, paws, and snouts. There were many species represented, and even a special elevated platform where species-purity Rodentia mammals were gathered.

The large number of single species purity mammals gathered in the dead of the night was very encouraging to Joe but intimidating as well. Sentiment against the fox and the rabbit and others like them and everything they represented was clearly not dead. His timing couldn't be better.

The buzz of conversation in the room got louder, as Joe and Duke walked along the side of the crowd, following a path to the stage that was roped off for them. Joe made eye contact with a number of the mammals there, and shook paws with several as did Duke. He recognized some of them, being associated quietly with them as employees at CBS or colleagues in the marketplace that were anti-mixed species believers.

Many of the mammals were dressed in severe black jumpsuits, each emblazoned with a patch that featured a white stylized predator holding paws with a white horned, generic prey mammal caricature superimposed by a big red "X" across the pair, a symbol of their order. Others not in the black uniforms had a similar, simple black arm patch adorned with the society logo. At the foot of the stairs to the stage, a wombat handed them armbands like the others that they pulled up on their right sleeves of their shirts.

Joe and Duke climbed the stage to some anticipatory applause. The crowed reacted favorably to Joe, especially seeing the camel smile as he proudly put their societal arm band on. Camels are among the largest prey in all of mammaldom, and he was a confident, imposing mammal standing before the large crowd.

Everyone there was waiting anxiously. Duke calmed the crowd. The anticipation was palpable. Duke was ready to say few words and introduce Joe.

Before Duke did that, he nodded to the wombat, which pulled a rope. A huge banner with the symbol of their organization unfurled behind them. It was the same crossed-out mixed-species couple armband but nearly 20 feet across and it dominated the backdrop behind the stage.

Duke was very much at ease with the crowd, greeting them, "My friends, it's so good to see you again. It has been a long time since we met face to face, and there is always a risk in doing so that we will be discovered and arrested for unlawful assembly and conspiracy, even though we are just exercising our free speech rights. I applaud all your individual efforts to keep our message alive in spite of the odds against us. What we have to do over the next few weeks together will make all the difference in the world and roll the tide back, crushing our opponents. Soon we will not have to skulk and hide. Our beliefs will become mainstream because of the true vision that our brother in arms has come to share with us tonight. I present to you Joe Camel, a mammal we can truly be proud of as a champion of our cause. He's just been selected as the Zootopia Leadership Institute's CEO of the Year."

There was enthusiastic applause, especially some who had not heard the news about him. But award or not, everyone wanted to hear what the camel had to say. This was the entertainment and media czar that had dared to continue a corporate commitment to the message of species purity when it was becoming increasingly unpopular to do so.

"Good morning everyone, and thanks so much, Duke, for arranged this, my first meeting with the Species Purity Society. The first of many, I hope. I applaud your work. It is so good to see so many of you that are out there in your society doing the right thing for all of mammaldom. I know you are living in fear of reprisal simply for doing the correct thing, and have to keep in the background and suppress your true beliefs and feelings. There are more of you out there than you think. I can assure you that our numbers are strong and growing. I get to see the social media counts in support of our cause. Take great comfort that our beliefs and all of you are right."

There was outright cheering for Joe. Duke was pleased. The camel was connecting with the society.

Joe took a pensive stance, and reflected, "Before I begin, I have to make a confession to everyone here who thinks I'm a fraud, because if I don't clear the air, nothing I say will have any meaning to you."

Duke was alarmed.

Joe admitted, "For many years I was a believer in cross-species relationships. I had a cross species relationship a tigress named Adeline."

Many did not know. There were gasps and murmurs.

"Say it isn't so, Joe!" lamented one supporter.

Another shouted, "The Mayor's wife? She's disgusting. How could you?"

They obviously knew all know about Zootopia's Mayor and First Mammal who were a married cross species couple.

Joe nodded, "Yes. That Adeline. I was such a fool to trust a cross species mammal. At first I didn't know her beliefs. I was just trying to be a good employer mentoring younger employees. In the interest of helping her 'be anything she wanted to be in Zootopia', I gave her every opportunity I could as a mentor and her management. Adeline was a poor inner city girl that I gave a starting job at CBS as an accountant. She had real talent and was able to demonstrate quickly she could keep the financial records of the corporation well. "

"So good that she could manage the illegal financial record books too," he thought but did not say.

Joe continued, "It wasn't long before she showed leadership among her peers in the company in entertainment programming and production and as my trust in Adeline grew, I gave many more chances to excel, until I elevated her to an Executive Vice President and then finally to Chief Operating Officer of Camel Broadcasting System. But then, I am sorry to admit, it got complicated. We spent long hours together in meetings and at work. It wasn't long before her charm and personality - that endeared her to so many mammals in the organization - captured me as well. I gave her my heart and my bed. And I was prepared to give her my life."

There was a universal 'Ewww!' from the society – directed at Adeline, not Joe.

"No way, Joe!" uttered one shocked donkey.

Joe hung his head and confessed, "It's all true."

Over 200 mammals were dead silent and holding their collective breath for the next part of his story.

Joe rose up and held his head high, "So… where did my trust in cross-species relationships get me?"

He paused for a moment, but then he pounded the podium with his paws in an angry fist. Everyone jumped. He shouted, "It got me betrayal when she quit and joined ZTV, my arch rival. It got me a broken heart by dumping me for the Mayor and marrying him – a lion."

His look after the outburst was one of true heartache and his tears fell freely.

Boos and angry yells about Adeline filled the room, and there was a universal outpouring of total sympathy for Joe.

Duke knew this not exactly how things really happened, but it was great theater. Only a hand full of people actually knew the true story. Joe's smooth, heart-rending story and captivating delivery now had everyone right in the cleft of the two toes of his foot.

Joe bored in on his point leaning further into the podium, "And so, my fellow mammals, I learned the hardest lesson of my life. All those years of being brainwashed with the notion that mammals who believe in mixing of the species somehow makes them 'magically' more loving and tolerant toward all species is pure, unadulterated bullshit."

Several whoops went up confirming for the crowd. They heard firsthand what they believed and Joe's gut-wrenching personal testimony confirmed for them in their hearts that Joe was a cruel victim of Adeline's actions.

Joe hammered his points home, "I learned that if any cross species mammal is willing to compromise their values by going outside of their species for love, then they also more than willing to compromise anything and anyone they need to get their way."

There was thunderous applause and cheering in support of Joe's inspirational address.

Joe finished his story by asking emotionally, with his growing voice louder and louder until reaching a crescendo, as good as any human motivational speaker in front of a crowd could ever be, "And that is why I must approach you now for your personal commitment by asking some private questions."

They shouted in a group and chanted together, "Ask us! Ask us! Ask us!"

He held his two-toed hoof high in the air asking for a hand count and shouted, "Who here abhors cross species relations?"

Every paw and claw went into the air, with the powerful response, "We do!"

He added, "Who believes that cross species relations are wrong?"

"We do, Joe!" they all exclaimed.

He smiled and teased, "I can't hear you."

"We do Joe!" they screamed in unison.

With a contented nod and grin, "All right, I believe you. Who here knows that being with another species is a disgusting and unnatural act?"

Shouts and jeers and derisively obscene hoots and roars came from the crowd.

He raised both of his arms and clenched his hooves above his head and shouted as loud as he could. His humps quivered, "Who here stands with me that mixed species couples and offspring are an abomination against nature?"

Yells and screams of "Yes! Yes! Yes!" rattled and echoed in the huge underground cargo area.

Joe Camel truly had the crowd revved to a fever pitch. He paced and gestured like a wild mammal pumping his fists, "Then since you believe as I do, then each and every one of you know that something must be done to stop cross-species relations forever. We must stop it now more than ever, before it spirals out of control like a plague. It's happening right before our eyes. Nearly all the winners of the Institute's awards are cross species or worse – sympathizers – same species mammals that condone their wicked behavior."

A hippo shouted, "No Joe, please no. It can't be!"

Joe answered, "Oh But it is, my friends. I for one can't simply stand by and watch. My actions speak for me. Since I was spurned, betrayed and humiliated by Adeline, I took actions. My TV shows called out and ridiculed cross species couples – one couple in particular. I'm proud to say it moved one individual to action – a martyr to our cause named Simon. His actions inspired others to nearly end the fox and rabbit cops. But sadly it didn't work because it can't be the actions of one or two mammals randomly here and there to put an end to the mixed species cancer in our society. I've done my part but I can't do it alone, I need all of you to help. And that is my ask of you: the fine members of the Species Purity Society."

Screams and applause and stomping of feet and paws and hooves vibrated the entire area.

"Tell us what we can do Joe," asked Duke.

"You know I am one of you. I am cured of the vile temptress Adeline and the horrors of her kind: the kind of mammals who must not be allowed to exist to poison our world."

Things turned more ugly in shouts from the crowd:

"Destroy the blasphemers!"

"Kill the abominations!"

"Eliminate their kind!"

Joe was pleased and he encouraged, "We can, my fellow mammals. I may have not been able to exact my revenge by myself, nor could Simon. But now we have the means to end them. Right here in this room. We can put an end to all of them at one place and one time in one night."

"How Joe?" came the collective single question.

Joe explained,"In merely a couple of weeks, the Zootopia Leadership Institute, at the Assembly Hall, will gather and honor the best in Zooptopia. There we will end the mixed species sentiment forever. Every one of the most visible and important cross species mammals will be there with their spouses and their sympathizers. We will infiltrate the catering services, and then when the time is right, we will strike them all down at once for the good of Zootopia for everyone in the city to know that separation of the species is the right way. The only way."

There was universal agreement for Joe, and the crowd screamed and clapped in support.

"Tell us what to do Joe," prompted Duke.

"Here's how. I am asking you to make a sacrifice in your sleep tonight for the cause. Tomorrow at 8 AM at Assembly Hall, the employment line opens for catering services. We need 50 of you to go and sign up for the event. It's best if you have experience as a food worker."

Someone complained, "There's going to be hundreds of mammals lined up for the jobs tomorrow. Only a few of us are food workers and waiters will get in."

Joe addressed the concern, "We will take care of that. We will be many, we will be strong, and we will train you right here to serve food and to serve deadly revenge to cross species mammals. The blasphemers will die holding their awards in pools of their own blood."

There were shrieks of happiness.

"Who is with me?" prompted Joe.

Nearly 80 hands went up.

"Good, my fellow warriors."

He proceeded to talk them about his planned fake injuries, his fake defense of the sympathizers, the control over the TV feed to show the slaughter. He told them if any of them did get arrested, he would support them quietly with lawyers and a defense fund from his vast private fortune.

"What then, Joe?" asked Duke.

"The day after the cleansing of Zootopia from the cross species traitors, I will announce my candidacy for Mayor and guide Zootopia toward a future vision that we all share of a world free from cross species relations of any kind."

The crowd was electrified at that new surprise.

"Mayor Joe, Mayor Joe, Mayor Joe!" went the next full crowd chant.

Joe added, "When I become Mayor I will pardon any of you who get arrested for eliminating the scourge of the mixed species lovers. Many of you will be richly rewarded in positions of power and influence in my Administration to make sure the changes happen and become reality and the law of the land."

The mammals got more and more excited about his seemingly flawless plan. At the end they were cheering and jumping up and down in a near frenzy.

Duke came over to Joe on stage and they raised their hands above them like brothers.

"To our victory!" Duke yelled.

"Victory! Victory! Victory!" they all shouted together.

It was nearly over, but a thunderous amplified deep voice drowned out their cheering, "Joe Camel. You're going to need more power over millions of mammals in Zootopia than just inspiring a tiny group in a hidden underground room."

Joe was very angry, concerned he had lost the momentum with the crowd from a lone heckler, and so he asserted his authority as he peered out into the crowd trying to locate the mammal who would dare shout down his rally, "Who are you? What gives you the right to interrupt me? Show yourself! Or are you a coward?"

The disembodied voice over-modulated the speakers and the mammals all held their ears, "My name is Nemo. I interrupted you because you need me. And I am three times your size, camel. I am no coward."

Everyone was silent as they heard a wet swishing and flopping sound on the concrete and metal floors from behind the crowd. They all saw motion in the shadows. There was a rhythmic clumping sound with the other noise. Whatever was coming was huge, and slow, and wet.

The creature came into view from behind the staging area where they were assembled. Mammals were staggered and gasped, and some females started to cry and bury their faces in their mates' shoulders. It was an enormous elephant seal. He stood nearly over 18 feet tall. His head barely cleared the rafters of the underground chamber and weighed nearly 9000 pounds. Some of the metal plates in the floor creaked and the behemoth was careful to steer himself around most of them. His pace was very labored. He looked positively fearsome and had a horrible visage - jowly, with deep folds of scarred and wrinkled skin with warts and other protrusions. He displayed the massive, misshapen blubbery proboscis of an elephant seal male that dominated his face and hung well below his lower jaw filled with misshapen and darkened teeth. He was hideous by any land mammal standard.

Even evolved to walk erect like every other mammal in this civilization, he still walked on true flippers, and he had to steady his bulk on a huge metal staff, leaning heavily on it with his dexterous flippered hands that grasped the staff powerfully. His gait was more like a waddle.

The gigantic aquatic mammal wore a full body blue jumpsuit with is fore flippers and hind flipper exposed. On his left chest pocket, he wore a large, stylized "A" of Atlantea with a gold and yellow whorl in the middle of letter that resembled a cresting wave.

Joe gulped. The camel stood nearly 11 feet tall, and was intimidating in his own right. Against the elephant seal, Joe felt very small. This lumbering aquatic mammal could have smashed him flat. Nemo was four times as heavy as Joe. They were quite the contrast in mammal physiology, with Joe's huge growth of tan and brown fur hanging down from his jaws and long neck down to his chest like a full body beard, as compared with Nemo's nearly hairless body with glistening dark, wet skin with folds and folds of blubber.

As the visual impact of the mammoth elephant seal gripped the crowd and everyone's anxiety about his intentions by being among them, mammals in the crowd screamed at wet, hulking, and frightening giant. Females clutched their friends and partners in fear and started to back away from Nemo. Duke knew that they would soon panic and scatter, so he and his most senior leaders calmed the crowd. Most Zootopia mammals had never seen an aquatic mammal, especially one this imposing. Most of them thought of Atlantea as a vacation paradise, not an image of intimidating power.

The elephant seal's voice reverberated in the cavernous underground room in tones that they could feel as much as hear, because of his proboscis, "Greetings Joe Camel, Duke and members of the Species Purity Society. Please, do not be afraid. We are kindred spirits from the Ocean of the East. I am Nemo of Atlantea. I wish to speak to you, Joe. We need to talk privately. Please wait here - all the rest of you. Duke, my friend and ally. Keep your mammals calm while we talk."

Most of the members of the society had no idea Duke knew about this huge beast, but they calmed. It was disturbing to watch Nemo talk. The enormous blubbery proboscis flapped as he talked, making his own words echo and vibrate. It was a voice like no one had ever heard before.

Joe was very worried to be alone with this monster of the sea. He looked frantically at Duke. The rhino, himself dwarfed by Nemo, urged Joe to go along with the behemoth. Joe was deathly afraid that this was a betrayal by Duke, and that being together alone would lead to his death. Joe remembered all too well that he had ordered Duke to beat Simon to a pulp and leave him for dead with the Amur tigers. He wondered what fate Duke would leave him to endure.

Still reticent and not wanting to be alone with Nemo, he stalled, "Uhh… Nemo. Whatever you have to say to me can be said to everyone."

Sensing his fear, Nemo still insisted, "No, Joe, it can't. This is between you and me because of what I must reveal to you to assure your future. This is a chat between leaders of our respective movements in this world. I do not wish to harm you. If I wanted to, I already would have and you would have never seen it coming."

Joe did not miss the fact that despite the reassurance from Nemo, there was a threat of the elephant seal's superior power. Nemo clapped his flippers together in a signal, and he was suddenly surrounded by a dozen sea lions, seals, and several walruses who poured out of the corridor from which he came. All of them waddled along as they walked erect like Nemo, many aided with staffs or crutches to support their weight while standing erect on land, and every one of them had the same blue coveralls with the stylized 'A' as Nemo. A single manatee wheeled himself out in a wheel chair. In the eons since most other mammals walked erect, these ancient gentle creatures could exist on land only with artificial support.

All the pinnipeds smiled in a friendly manner as they approached and mingled with the assembled land mammals. Their body movements were not threatening. At first the Society members were very nervous, but these Atlantean creatures mingled easily for the first time with the others in a rare meeting of totally different species. There was a nervous trust established. They were mutually curious about each other. It was an interesting experience for a land mammal to shake a hairless, damp, evolved flipper/paw of a pinniped.

Because Zootopia was inland hundreds of miles from the coast and abutted a huge mountain range, it had no source of salt water, even with its huge river. Therefore, the mammals that had never settled there, because it was just not naturally suited to them, were the aquatic mammals – pinnipeds and cetacea: seals, sea lions, walruses, whales, dolphins, and porpoises. With the establishment of Zootopia, the aquatic mammals species had formed a separate multi-species city called Atlantea at the mouth of the river that flowed by Zootopia. It was a truly beautiful city, organic in most ways with on shore and offshore architecture that breathtakingly captured the essence of the winds and waves of their coastline, though fully embraced high tech and specialized in marine biology. The high tech was integrated aesthetically by law and policy of the city's government.

Atlantea was a fraction of the size of Zootopia, and there was a near twin of Atlantea on the other side of the world called Pacifica for the similar aquatic mammal species that dwelled in the Great Ocean of the West – more than three times the size of the Ocean of the East on whose coastline Atlantea rested.

Nemo and Joe walked slowly a long corridor toward a weirdly lighted area. Joe still felt very anxious, and walked slowly next to Nemo. Each step upright seemed painful for the huge elephant seal.

Nemo said, "Joe, from afar, I have respected your rise in the business world, and through Duke, I've learned a lot about your brave deeds. I've learned that your beliefs match ours, not like so many who would go along with this lie of 'equality of the species'. I am more impressed that you have tried to steer public opinion successfully because of your powerful media outlet."

Joe felt better immediately and admitted, "Thank you. I have not had the success I would like."

Nemo was more encouraging, "Yes, but because of you, sentiment against mixed species continues to be debated. The most notable pair – the police fox and rabbit – were almost neutralized because or your direct influence. That was admirable. Have confidence. Your coordinated attack against all of them at once will work. We are also pleased that you are going to run for the Mayor. You will have tremendous influence when you win. When coupled with what we can do, we will be unstoppable."

"I appreciate all the kind words and encouragement, but how can I trust you? You just barge in here and claim to be allies. And you know Duke. He never told me anything about you, and yet you call him 'friend'. How do I ever trust him again for keeping your very existence from me?"

The elephant seal apologized, "I am sorry to surprise you like this, Joe, and it's not Duke's fault. Please forgive him. I forced Duke not to tell you until the time was right. That time is now."

"Duke is one of your mammals?"

"No he's not. He's but another ally. He is aligned with you he is also aligned with us – and we all, with other groups around the world like all of us, have much in common. Duke and I been friends for some time. He helps us maintain contact with other believers in the other great cities of the world, and has helped us eliminate other problems well before you ever achieved your power and influence."

"There's a worldwide movement of species purity believers?" Joe asked in surprise.

Nemo smiled, "Yes. We are very small in number, but very influential, and in many places. Let me show you."

They turned a corner at the end of the access way that opened up into a vast underground mammal made chamber, much bigger than where the society had gathered. It was an underground dock, and one part was filled with water from the river. Centered in the middle of the water and dock was a huge ocean-going undersea vessel that hummed with power.

It was clear to Joe that because of the valves and pumps and gigantic sealed metal doors in front of him and the doors they just passed through, that they were far under the river and this was a subterranean dry dock. The sub entered this area when it was fully filled with water, the watertight doors were sealed, the water flooding the entire area was pumped out except for enough to float the vessel, and the pinnipeds exited to go to the staging area.

Joe knew that this underground dry dock was built expressly for the Nautilus, and wondered who in Zootopia knew that. And paid for it.

Duke shouted, "Holy shit!"

Nemo calmly smiled and invited, "Joe, let me show you the Nautilus."

They went into the lowest level of underground facility where the Nautilus was berthed and floating and headed to a gangplank. Joe had seen submarines before but never anything like this one. It was enormous; probably 500 feet from bow to stern, and most of it was hidden underwater. It was shaped roughly like a dolphin. The artificial dorsal fin that was atop the vessel was a conning tower, bristling with communications antennas and tubes that were probably periscopes. The tail fins of the sub were shaped like dolphin flukes as were the mid-bow hull-mounted steering fins. At the aft end of the sub was a wicked looking, curved, six-bladed brass impeller, that just reeked of power and speed. The Nautilus was painted a beautiful blue gray like a dolphin, which when submerged, would make it all but disappear in the water, even as huge as it was.

Joe was flabbergasted, "Is… is this a submarine?"

"Yes. A submarine like you have never seen. The Nautilus is a deep sea research vessel dedicated to the study of marine mammal life and to discovering the origins of life in the ocean from which we and all land mammals came. We are dedicated to biological and marine research. That is our stated purpose to support the Atlantea Marine Research Institute. But with no one's knowledge, we are also dedicated to traveling the world to maintain and assure that the beauty and wonder of species purity is maintained wherever it exists in nature."

Breathless, Joe said, "It… it's beautiful."

"She sails as beautifully as she looks. We can sail the world without ever surfacing for years with the nuclear power plant."

Joe was stunned. Nuclear power of any kind in the mammal world was outlawed in favor of renewable energy because of its many dangers - except for the world wide Mammal Defense Forces.

The entire rounded bow of the Nautilus featured a bulbous 'snout', making it resemble a dolphin's head even more that held its sonar. Otherwise, the bow was more dominated with gigantic observation windows. As they got closer, Joe could see inside the control room the bustle of seals and sea lions tending the many dials and switches in the control room. The lights inside the sub were all different colors on the consoles, but a blue white lighting scheme provided the overall lighting for the crew. The control screens and sensors were banks of flashing greens and yellows and blues and couple of reds. In the center of the glass enclosed viewing area was a gigantic chair suspended by artistic metal arches and frames that Joe guessed was Nemo's captain's chair. The chair was surrounded by HDTV style displays. It would allow Nemo an unobstructed view of his crew and their work stations and the ocean outside the sub. The undersea vessel seemed alive with its lights and he could hear the sounds of whirring pumps and generators. A large crew of seals, sea lions, walruses, manatees, and female elephant seals were busy tending to the sub's many intricate subsystems and controls.

They crossed from the dry dock over the water to the sub via a gangplank and entered the main hatchway of the sub.

Joe shook his head in dismay, "I'm sorry Nemo. This is… this is all so overwhelming. What do you need of me? I'm nothing compared to this. I'm just a CEO of a big entertainment company. I'm no scientist or world traveler or warrior. What could I even possibly contribute to your efforts at species purity?"

Nemo turned and looked at Joe dead in the eye, "That's where you are wrong, my camelid friend. We all see you as the glue of this movement. You're the voice of it. You're a word warrior and manipulator of public opinion and images, and a thought leader. You have the visibility and respect of many, and have the ability to control and influence mammals through media. You have strong voice for species purity like no other before you. Look what you just did with that crowd in there. You mesmerized them. They will follow you anywhere. And over 80 of them are going to sign up and are ready to die for the cause tomorrow. I could never wield that kind of influence. You are the muscle and the power and the money of this world. You make things possible that allows us to exist quietly and get things done while no one is looking."

"Or even suspecting," Joe both complimented and worried.

"Exactly," said Nemo confidently with a broad smile. Joe absolutely understood the purpose of Nemo's organization.

"Come aboard my humble home."

Joe worked his way down the stairs and touched nothing as he went. The seals and sea lions mostly went about their business, but acknowledged him silently but pleasantly as someone important on board. Finally they stood on the bridge, and the great elephant seal sat in his huge, form-fitting, deeply padded captain's chair, and manipulated the screens virtually with his hands movements. He finally seemed comfortable.

Nemo waved his flipper across the displays. A huge map of the world appeared on his display screens, with all the major cities of the world depicted before them in bright yellow stars on the map. Each had a graph beside the star with numbers and a color code. The colors were green next to Atlantea, Pacifica, Sherwood Forest, Bangaloo, Serengetar, Lagosium, Sahar, Great Plains, Great Lakes, Mexica, North Slope, Siber-Amur, Shanghi, and Argenta. Londonium and Gaullata showed yellow. But Zootopia was bright red and flashing.

Nemo explained, "Two million or so years ago, nature decided that every mammal on the planet - land and marine - should suddenly walk on their hind paws or hoofs or flippers and all share a common language."

"Every grade school mammal knows that," Joe said a little impatiently.

Nemo continued, "But far fewer mammals understand that during that two million years, mammals continue to change, not so much on the outside, but on the inside. The same forces that made us all walk and talk and give us dexterity in our paws the same have been at work in our DNA codes. Most mammal species eons ago were genetically diverse and each was marked by widely varying DNA strings and numbers of chromosomes. Archaeological finds prove that. Now virtually every mammal has the same number of chromosomes."

Joe was surprised, "I… I didn't know that."

"Few do. Fewer still admit it."

Joe understood the consequences of that fact.

Nemo explained further, "Genetic diversity among mammals made interbreeding between species an impossible occurrence. Our modern concept of individual cultures of every species of mammal, that closely align with ancient instincts, have kept us from interbreeding. Taboos and socio-political conditions among mammals kept everyone with their own species. Species purity was a universal concept for most of mammaldom's existence on this earth."

Joe stated, "Until Zootopia."

"Yes Joe. Until Zootopia. Until peace was declared universally between prey and predators. Everything we knew and believed has changed. All that accelerated a desire to mingle the species. And it's in other cities as well. Look here, Joe."

Graphs with numbers and categories flashed up by each megacity, and Nemo explained that meant, "These show the world conditions in terms of same-species purity. Much has changed here, but in some cities things have not. And it's all according to where mammals live and how mammals have lived."

"I don't understand," puzzled Joe.

"In most of the cities of the world that grew up in geographic areas where species always lived and thrived and always kept separate from other species, mammals' desire to stray from their own species for another has been very low. Simply put, in every mammal's brain and DNA is written: 'that's the way things have always been around here.' They just do what they always have done, so each species marries within their species and while they all live peacefully with the others, they do not intermarry. Those cities in the very ancient world are all 'green' by our 'mixed species threat level' standards, as you can see."

"I do see."

"In some megacities that are the crossroads of international trade and commerce, many diverse species live together from across the world. So in Londonium and Gaullata, there is tendency to experiment with relations with other species, because they work and interact with them every day. Work relations become friendships and those grow to affection. For them, it's new and exciting to try something different. Those cities show 'yellow'."

Joe looked at the graphs by each city. He saw the categories: numbers of suspected mixed species couples, mixed marriages, pregnancies, and births. They were all nearly zero everywhere but Zootopia. In Zootopia were over 1000 mixed species couples and nearly 700 marriages. That was ten times the number in Londonium and Gaullata. Joe had no idea it was that high even in a city of millions. There were no births but there was one pregnancy. He wondered who that was, but did not ask, or inquire how Nemo's mammals knew.

Nemo finished his explanation, "Zootopia is the ultimate experiment in mammal social engineering. Zootopia was built from the ground up, over the objections of many of the world's ancient city leaders, as something entirely new - putting species from all over the world in very close proximity in weather controlled Districts simulating all the climates of the world - in a matter of a few square miles."

Joe was catching on, and added, "It's only a matter of walk or a bus ride or taxi or personal car to meet multitudes of mammals that they would never be exposed to ."

Nemo affirmed, "Exactly. And it's not even limited where mammals can live in Zootopia. If a polar bear wants to live in Sahara Square they can. Or a jaguar in Tundra Town. In fact, they do. Zootopia is a pure melting pot of almost every species but ours. Naturally, the temptation to experiment is much greater here, and now experimentation has exploded. That's why Zootopia is Code Red. Many worried what could happen is happening."

Joe speculated, "So why do you – an aquatic mammal – care about us land dwellers? You guys are all nice and isolated and can easily keep with your own species. I figured you'd be happy to just keep with the water mammals in Atlantea and ignore all the messes we're making for ourselves here."

Nemo scoffed, "Mammal nature tells us we shouldn't get involved, that it's none of our business, and let the others live as they want to. But we do care. We exist to prevent the muddling and mixing of species from happening because there are dire consequences to interspecies relationships. If all species become the same, then nothing is special and we lose all identity as separate species. We're just paws and snouts with fur."

"Joe jumped into the conversation, That's where I come in. First, we take care of business at the banquet. Second, I'll pick up the pieces as Mayor. I will completely change public opinion. Third, I will make sure the new City Council passes laws and policies against mixed species. And finally, I will enforce those laws with police who believe as we do. Allies like the Species Purity Society – and you, Nemo - will help us."

Nemo was very satisfied with Joe's goals, "You are absolutely right Joe. This is why you must be the new Mayor. In the mean time, we will do what we have done for decades."

"And what is that?"

"We find every cross species couple in the world as you see there on my charts. If any marry and become pregnant, we abduct their offspring and force the parents to cover up any knowledge of their hybrid offspring. If the parents cooperate – that's the end of it and no one knows. If they don't cooperate, we have the medical means to prevent more offspring."

He flipped a switch and showed an ominous looking operating room on board the Nautilus.

"If they resist further, we do what we have to do to eradicate the problem," Nemo explained gravely and he reminded himself of the latest eradication scheduled for tonight.

Joe shivered at the coldness of their methods and yet felt himself agreeing. These Atlanteans were doing what he only dreamed of, and he never knew it was happening until now. And not just here in Zootopia, but across the entire world.

"You have a noble cause, Nemo," complimented Joe.

Nemo appreciated the praise, "But stifling the growth of cross species couples and their kits one by one is not the long term answer. We need something so instinctual and permanent in nature that in every mammal's mind across the world, they would never ever think about straying from their own species. "

Joe was skeptical, "I don't see how you to that, Nemo. There will always be those who resist and defy us no matter how strong we legislate and enforce the laws. Mammals have free will and can commit acts of civil disobedience. Even as Mayor I can't lock everyone up. Or worse…"

Nemo suggested, "Our biological and genetic research will provide the permanent solution. I told you that nature adapts. In less than a year, we will have the ultimate solution. We quietly and deliberately help nature adapt the way we want it to. To adapt in a way that favors species purity, because if we don't, this is what happens."

He waved his flipper over the screens and the maps and graphs and numbers vanished. A new view appeared. It was a series of surveillance cameras in about a dozen rooms that appeared to be part living space, part bedroom, and part research lab. A new set of mammals moved about in those rooms, all dressed in matching yellow jumpsuits with the Atlantea logo.

"Where is this?" Joe asked.

"I cannot tell you right now, but it's in a place these mammals can never escape from and they know it."

Joe wondered why Nemo would say that, but as Joe carefully studied each 'cell', he finally realized what he was looking at. He gasped, clutched his chest, got weak in his knees and had sit. Each mammal was like no other that he had ever seen.

One was a cross between a lion and a tiger. The caption on the TV surveillance monitor for his confinement area was 'Regil'. In another area were a litter of hybrid juvenile rats and woodchucks and the sign said: "Family Stardoow'. In another confinement cell there was a hybrid of a gazelle and horse, with magnificent horns and striped fur, named 'Ellezroh'. A much bigger area contained a mix of an elephant and a rhino, complete with a shortened trunk and tusks and an elegant horn on its snout, with very tiny ears and heavily armored hide called 'Onihpele'. There were other hybrid animal of different types, and then Joe's eyes stopped and he gasped. In the last interment room was a mammal named 'Xobar'.

Joe exclaimed, "That's a rabbit and fox combination!"

"Yes it is."

"It's all white. Is it an albino?"

Nemo answered, "No. It's a hybrid from an arctic fox an arctic hare. It's our oldest hybrid - it's almost 25 years old. And smartest. And most dangerous. And a terrible flight risk. Our security is tightest with that one, and we almost had to kill it last time it escaped. It murdered three of our sea lions and a harbor seal before I subdued it myself."

Joe sneered and curled his lip, "They're all hideous. Disgusting. Why would any couple want to birth anything like these?"

Nemo nodded, "Now you understand why this cannot happen in the public, or let run unchecked among the population. The public, as you well know, wants this. Especially another 'Oxbar'. They are obsessed with that rabbit fox police couple having offspring. This ugly creature is what you get from that."

"These mammals are a perfect example of 'be careful what you ask for'. How did it happen?"

"I told you that the chromosomes of are nearly every mammal are the same. Breeds that could never mate can now. Every combination is possible, even prey and predator like the rabbit fox. To put it bluntly, if the reproductive organs and genitalia of a male and female mammal can fit together easily, they can breed. And they inevitably will with time. Their bodies' biochemistries figure it out. It could take five, seven, maybe ten years of sexual activity together, but mixed species couples will indeed get pregnant if they are fertile, especially those who are very active sexually. Sperm and egg will find each other. Some species you could never imagine mating can produce offspring that unfortunately do not always work out."

Nemo's labs had formaldehyde jars full of failed kits.

"What are these strange names you've given these… creatures, Nemo?"

"They don't deserve names. They are abominations. But we have to call them something, so we create a label to call them from what the combination of what they are. Then we reverse it. Xobar is actually rabox – rabbit/fox - backwards."

"Why don't you just kill them? Locking them up away from the world must be very expensive," observed the camel.

Nemo answered, "They are a treasure trove of genetic material to sample and experiment with - to understand why they exist, and if more of them can exist. From them, we can learn how to make sure none of them can exist in the future. We force them to work on the research that will prevent abominations like them, because we indoctrinate them they were not meant to exist – we tell them that their parents hate them and discarded them like trash until we found them. We get them as infants so their parents cannot imprint family emotions on them. We force them to be the way we want them to be."

That sounded dreadful even to Joe.

"What do you do with them besides using them for genetic material?" asked Joe.

"We do the best thing possible; we educate them and put them to work as lab techs. We take samples from them. We experiment on them. Whatever is necessary. We even breed them to find out if they are fertile and can make multiple cross species offspring. Believe me they can breed too and make even more horrible combinations. We make sure they know they are researching and engineering the means of their own extinction. So there can never be more like them. Most do it gladly. Some, like Xobar, have to be encouraged."

It was the cold-hearted truth, and the ultimate expression of species purity. While still intimidated by the scale and capability of Nemo's biological and genetic operations, Joe was more motivated than ever to continue his quest in his leadership role in the species purity movement.

Joe smiled evilly and exclaimed, "I can't wait to tell the others about all of this: that everything they are doing is worth it."

Nemo stopped him, "I'm sorry you can't, Joe. For now this is only meant for you. Even Duke has never seen all this."

"How will I inspire them? What can I tell them?" fretted the camel.

"Just tell them they are all now part of a world-wide alliance that you and I have made that united together, we cannot fail," Nemo suggested.

Joe knew their discussion was ending, "What can you do to help us in our victory at the banquet?"

"Nothing," stated the elephant seal.

"Nothing? Really?" asked Joe incredulously.

"Really."

Nemo explained, "Joe, we are not warriors, though we are assassins when we need to be. We are researchers. I told you that you and Duke's society are the force of change. You must win the victory for yourselves. Create the conditions through which species purity once again is the norm for mammal social behavior. That alone will solve much of the problem, while we continue to research the permanent solution."

"When will we meet again?"

Nemo instructed, "Come to Atlantea after the deed is done at the banquet - and not before. Alone. Take this key. You will know what door it opens when you get to the Institute. And then I will tell you and show you everything."

"I accept," Joe responded. The camel took the key and put the chain around his neck, tucking it under his shirt, and under layers of tan fur.

The unlikely friends smiled at each other and shook paws with Nemo, saying, "Goodbye for now."

Naaman, a sea lion, escorted Joe back to where the Species Purity Society was anxiously waiting.

Joe mounted the stage with renewed confidence and addressed the silent crowd, "I have had a very productive conversation with Nemo and his pinniped brothers. This impressive elephant seal has many resources that will aid us in the future, and he and his friends will be a great friend and ally for our future. We are no longer alone. With Nemo we have alliance with many others like us across the entire world to rid the mammaldom of mixed species lovers forever. Not just here in Zootopia."

A great cheer erupted from the society with a collective sigh of relief.

Joe wrapped it up, "The work to end mixed species everywhere must start with our victory here in Zootopia. So tomorrow morning and in the days ahead the keys to success begins with us and what we do to destroy the abominations in our city. Tomorrow we take that first step! Rest well and good luck in signing up in the morning. Thank you and good night!"

Duke came out on the stage and shook paws with Joe with a huge smile. Great cheering and applause ended the meeting and the crowd started to disperse.

Joe was pumped, proud, and very confident. This could not fail now, and not with the backing of a mysterious but very powerful pinniped genetic research organization from Atlantea.

Duke said, "OK boss. Time to go. My colleagues will take it from here."

On the ride back to CBS Tower and his penthouse, Joe was silent and pensive, having second thoughts about the new alliance between the pinnipeds and land animals. As confident as he was, mulling over what Nemo had showed him and told him about being the leader and the voice of the movement against cross species relations, Joe could not shake the feeling that he was just another chess piece in Nemo's worldwide chess game.

But Joe didn't know enough about Nemo to not trust him, and had to take the huge elephant seal's help in any form wherever he old get it.

…

Jeremiah and Naaman stood before their leader Nemo's command chair, and he charged them, "You know what to do next, right?"

Jeremiah answered, "Yes, Nemo. Take care of Melvin and Sandra Wilde. Duke has got us all set."

"Hurry, then. The sun will rise in just a few hours. You must strike before they awake. Erase the memory of Xobar before they tell the younger rabbit/fox pair. Even if they have, the younger ones will die at the banquet during Joe Camel's masterful attack."

"Yes sir," and the sea lions turned and left with purpose. Out of sight of any of the Zootopia mammals, they walked on their hind flippers as fast and gracefully as any land mammal.