Tournament - Bonkers D. Bobcat vs. Judy Hopps

[JohnnyChany]

WORKING WITH JACK SLATER

 

 

THE OPPORTUNITY

 

The LAPD precinct buzzed with its usual chaotic energy, a symphony of ringing phones, shouted orders, and the occasional explosion in the background. It was a normal day in the world of Jack Slater. A world he had recently learned was fictional, but that fact did not deter him from wanting to do his job to the best of his ability. Currently, there was a more pressing problem keeping him from dwelling too much on the existential crisis of his existence. It was the imminent departure of a close colleague, a dear friend, and a damn good cop.

Jack leaned against the desk of Whiskers, the animated feline detective who dressed in a trench coat and wore sunglasses inside. His sharp wit and sharper claws had been instrumental in keeping the precinct’s more bizarre cases under control for as long as Jack could remember.

"You can’t be serious, Whiskers," said Jack. "Retirement? You’re the glue that holds this place together."

Whiskers took a drag of his cigarette, his whiskers twitched with amusement. "Jack, I’ve had a blast dedicating most of my nine lives to this job. But the way this city’s going, I’m worried I’ll lose the last of them before I even get to enjoy a decent round of golf."

“Do you really think you would enjoy retirement?” asked Jack. “You’re going to miss all of this excitement.”

“Won’t know until I try,” replied Whiskers. “And I can get one of ‘em pretty nurses to take care of me. That’s all the excitement I’ll need.”

“That only happens if you have a disability or injury and are in need of assistance.”

Whiskers stood up from his chair. “Well, there is still time. I’m sure I can rustle up some trouble before my last day.”

Jack sighed. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Sounds like you’ve got your mind made up. We’re going to miss you, pal. The precinct won’t be the same without you."

Whiskers appeared to get choked up.

“You okay?” asked Jack.

Whiskers quickly composed himself. “Yeah, I had a furball coming up. Anyway, I’ll miss you too, Jack. You’ve saved my fur more times than I can count.”

"Enjoy retirement, you earned it."

Whiskers smiled, He tossed away his cigarette and ambled over to Lieutenant Dekker’s office to inform him of his decision.

Later that day, Dekker’s voice roared across the precinct. 

"SLATER!" 

The bellow was so powerful, it shattered the glass pane on Dekker’s office door. Jack ducked into the office. 

"What’s the emergency, Lieutenant?"

Dekker’s face was red with a mix of frustration and panic.

"How are we supposed to replace Whiskers? He’s an animated cat, Slater. There’s literally no one else like him!"

Jack gave him a reassuring nod. "I’ve been thinking about it all day. Give me a week. I’ve got a few ideas."

 

THE CANDIDATES

A week later, Jack returned with two candidates that he was able to locate through his friend Danny. Both of them followed him into the precinct. Bonkers D. Bobcat bounced along with a hyperactive energy. His orange fur stood in vibrant contrast against his bright blue police uniform. Beside him, Judy Hopps. a petite gray rabbit with sparkling purple eyes, stood with a composed yet eager demeanor.

"Wow! This place is amazing!" Bonkers exclaimed as his eyes darted around the precinct. "It’s way more expansive than where I was before!"

Judy smiled politely. “It’s impressive.” Her gaze scanned the bustling precinct and settled on a large dispatch station handing out assignments. "It looks intense. But not too different from Zootopia."

“Just wait here and he will bring you in when he is ready,” said Jack.

Dekker already had their applications and perused through them on his desk.

 

BONKERS D. BOBCAT

 

Goals:

-     To bring laughter and justice to the world.

-     To prove that toons can be serious law enforcement officers.

Experience:

-     Former cop in the Toon Division of the LAPD, mainly focused on Toon Town, Hollywood.

-     Solved cases involving rogue cartoons and human suspects.

-     Expert in slapstick combat and improvisation.

References:

-     Miranda Wright, former partner

-     Lucky Piquel, former partner

-     Chief Leonard Kanifky

 

JUDY HOPPS

 

Goals:

-     To prove that anyone can be anything.

-     To bridge the gap between animated and live-action policing.

Experience:

-     Officer at Zootopia Police Department.

-     Solved high-profile cases, including the Night Howler conspiracy.

-     Skilled in negotiation, investigation, and physical combat.

References:

-     Chief Bogo, Zootopia PD

-     Nick Wilde, ZPD officer

 

THE INTERVIEWS

 

Bonkers was selected first to go in. He sprung off his tail and bounded into Dekker’s office. He took his seat with a wide smile across his face. Being a bobcat, he reminded Dekker of Whiskers, although their demeanors couldn’t be farther apart. 

Dekker leaned forward and studied Bonkers. "Why do you think you’re the right fit for this job?"

"I’ve got the experience, Lieutenant. I’ve worked with humans before, even if they were cartoon humans. Also, I know how to think outside the box..or inside it, if I’m being chased by a rogue anvil."

Dekker raised an eyebrow. "How do you handle high-pressure situations?"

"Pressure? That’s my middle name! Well, actually, it’s D. But I’ve been flattened, stretched, and squashed, and I always bounce back. Literally. There’s nothing that scares me."

Dekker pursed his lips. "What’s your biggest weakness?"

Bonkers’ ears drooped slightly. "Sometimes I can get too excited. But I’ve been working on staying focused."

"Final question. Do you foresee any problems working with live-action officers?"

Bonkers saluted. "No sir! Humans, cartoons, live-action—it’s all the same when it comes to justice."

“Thank you for coming down, Officer Bobcat. We will let you know.”

Bonkers reached over the desk to shake Dekker’s hand. “If you decide to give me this opportunity, I promise to make this precinct proud.”

After the departure of Bonkers from Dekker’s office, Judy was motioned to go in. She strode in with confidence and sat across from the lieutenant.

Dekker eyed Judy. "You think you’re tough enough for this precinct?"

Judy smiled. "Lieutenant, I’ve faced predators twice my size and taken down a city-wide conspiracy. I’m not worried."

Dekker leaned back on his chair. "Human Resources tells me I’m mean and intimidating. Does that bother you?"

Judy’s ears twitched. "Not at all. From where I sit, you’re nowhere near as intimidating as Chief Bogo."

Dekker chuckled. "Fair enough. What would you say is your biggest strength?"

"I don’t give up. No matter how hard the case gets, I’ll see it through."

"How do you handle team dynamics?"

"I work well with others, even if we start off on the wrong foot. I believe building trust is key."

Dekker nodded. "Final question. Why do you want this job?"

Judy’s eyes widened. "Because it’s a new challenge, a chance to prove myself in a whole new way and help bridge the gap between our worlds."

“Thank you for your interest in this position, Officer Hopps. We will let you know.”

“I hope to hear from you soon.”

Judy nodded respectfully and exited. 

Dekker did not leave his office for the rest of the day. Eventually Jack walked in to check in on him. He saw Dekker looking wistfully at a group picture with Whiskers.

“How you doing, lieutenant?” Jack inquired.

“They both seem like upstanding police officers.” Dekker exhaled. “But they’re not Whiskers.”

“Of course not. But different doesn’t always mean worse.  Like Classical music. I had never heard it before until I was Danny’s house and now…”

Dekker cut him off. “What are you talking about? I need to hire a new animated officer here. We aren't talking about music. Who would you choose?”

Jack held up his hand in protest and shook his head. “No, no. That’s not my job. My job is to beat the bad guys and deliver great one liners. I found you the candidates, the decision is now up to you.”

Jack slung his jacket over his shoulder as he turned to leave. “I'm going to have dinner with my daughter. Let me know when you’ve made up your mind.”

Dekker looked back down at the two applications on his desk.

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Bonkers D. Bobcat
Read more about Bonkers D. Bobcat at Wikipedia
Official Site: Disney Links: Wikipedia

Judy Hopps
Read more about Judy Hopps at Wikipedia
Official Site: Disney Links: Wikipedia