After a difficult day at the Thunder family, we move back into Gryphonia. Not much has changed after these fifteen years. Neyla's stringent regime is still in effect all across her empire. The Gryphonian Army has been quite dormant all these years as there weren't any attacks launched on the city of Zootopia. Perhaps they are plotting something big behind closed doors. Their defenses and armed forces got much stronger ever since Neyla promoted Nero Archervile to the rank of a Supreme Commander who has ultimate control over her army. This could indicate an impending war of the kingdoms in the near future.
Zack Wolfward, officially codenamed as Subject Alpha is still hibernated in a cryo chamber along with many other Gryphonian units that were sent here for hibernation for punishment and various other reasons. The room full of cryo chambers is in complete darkness until a door opens. The light from the other room is cast upon the cryo chamber room along with a shadow of a small bunny. The mysterious bunny inputs a code in a small panel on a wall and lights up the room. Their identity gets revealed. It's an orange female bunny with blue eyes dressed up in a lab coat. She walks up the stairs leading to another control panel that serves for managing the cryo chambers and its subjects.
???: Let's see...
She activates the computer. When it boots up, it displays all the active chambers in the room on its screen. Then she locates the subject codenamed Alpha and requests its resuscitation process.
Computer: You are about to defrost subject Alpha and commence its resuscitation. Please confirm your identity.
She puts her paw on the scanner....
???: Lyra Weaver, requesting full access to Subject Alpha's chamber.
Her paw gets successfully scanned and her identity confirmed. The defrosting process begins. The chamber's heat begins to gradually increase and a warm steam fills up the chamber....
Five minutes later....the chamber opens and the steam spreads across the floor. Lyra gets back downstairs and proceeds towards the chamber. She stands in front of it as she observes the subject. There are a few indicators of the subject's health condition in the chamber including the heart rate, oxygen level and body temperature.
Lyra: Yes! His vitals are functioning optimally!
She walks a bit closer to the subject...
Lyra: Subject Alpha, can you hear me?
At that moment, Alpha's eyes open widely...
Zack: Where...am I?
He sits up and tries to get out of the chamber...
Lyra: Easy...easy! Your brain is still not fully viable, nor your body.
Zack: What do you mean?
Lyra: You've been hibernating for fifteen years on Empress Neyla's order.
Zack: This doesn't make any sense. I just returned from Operation Thunderbolt!
Lyra: Strange....subject is showing signs of disorientation, a side effect of long-term hibernation.
Zack: I am no subject! I am Zack Wolfward! And I am getting out of here even when I feel like I have no body!
Zack attempts to climb out of his chamber...
Lyra: Rest a while before you get on your feet. Your body is still debilitated and needs some time to recover from hibernation.
Zack climbs out from the chamber and falls to the ground unable to stand up and walk....
Zack: I hate it when bunnies are right. What is happening?
Lyra: I told you to rest. I need to get you back into your finest condition as fast as possible. You are needed more than ever right now.
Zack: For what? And why should I put my trust in you?
Lyra: For a good cause. You've been mistreated your whole life and today is the day when we put an end to it.
Zack: Mistreated?
After hearing that specific word, he gets several flashbacks from his teenage years where the majority of animals mistreat him and make fun of him because of his peculiar looks...
Zack: I managed to live with this. There's nothing you can do to make them love me and respect me. Who are you anyway? Do we know each other?
Lyra: I am your creator.....
Zack: No....I refuse to believe that! A bunny? For real?
Lyra: I made you back in the labs three decades ago. You were initially supposed to be a highly advanced artificial being serving the army of Gryphonia and it was never your main purpose to destroy Zootopia.
Zack: You are saying that I've been lied to my entire life?
Lyra: Yes. Empress Odynhood was so uncompromising back then that even in spite of my hard efforts of persuading her to leave you under my care, she wanted to train you to become her ultimate weapon for fulfilling her dream, to destroy and retake the land where Zootopia is built. Then....one day, I betrayed her and saved you from her. I had a few dependable friends who risked their lives to get you to Zootopia safely. I've never seen them since that day.
Zack: So, it wasn't them who purposely sent me to a goddamn orphanage just so I could be mistreated and have a poor life....thank you for doing that to me instead.
Lyra: Alpha.....Zack....can you imagine a different scenario? If I let them have you, then you'd never meet your friend in Zootopia and it is very likely that the city itself would be already under Neyla's control. That's called...the butterfly effect.
Zack: That's....plausible.
He gets many flashbacks from his childhood with Blake and then from the last moment he saw Blake on the top of the tallest skyscraper of Zootopia.
Zack: Blake...
Lyra: You are slowly starting to remember now.
Zack stands up without any signs of difficulties...
Lyra: Your body is quick with adapting itself I see.
Zack: So, they not only lied to me all this time, but they also cooked up a working story that would help them gain the utmost advantage over me and now here I am being awakened by a little bunny I can barely trust.
Lyra: They bent the truth, Zack. I know it is hard to trust a bunny who is working for the Gryphonians but I've been coerced into developing technological marvels for Neyla and her army. This is all against my will and the only way for me to survive.
Zack: Just cut to the chase, what do you want from me? If you want me to start tearing some bad guys apart, just say it. I am already in a fit state.....
Lyra: Listen closely. I haven't got much time to give you the rundown on the current situation so I'll be as quick as possible.
Zack: Go on....
Lyra: Follow me...
Zack: What?
Zack then follows Lyra to an unknown direction....
Zack: Where are we going?
Lyra: You are going to need some weapons to protect yourself.
Zack: Weapons...that's where the fun begins.
Lyra is way ahead of Zack as she walks briskly in front of him...
Zack: Hey...can you slow down?
Lyra: Can YOU hurry up?
They reach a room with various advanced weaponry, suits and gadgets....
Zack: Now we are talking!
Lyra: I got a very serious task for you and I don't think you're going to like it.
Zack: I've had many unenviable duties before. What could be worse?
Lyra: Before you pick your gear, there's something you need to know. Over the last couple of years, I've worked on a secret project called Zeta. It's yet another artificial living being created to finish what was started years prior to Operation Thunderbolt. It is an insuperable elite unit capable of carrying out even the most burdensome tasks that may seem impossible.
Zack: And what exactly is this THING expected to do?
Lyra: Neyla is planning to launch him to Zootopia where he can perform a new operation covertly. His main goal is to track down a fox named Blake Thunder and then transport him back here to Gryphonia where our scientists will take a sample of his blood.
Zack: Okay? And why is his blood so seriously important?
Lyra: Your former employee, Regina Quinn used the Reinvigorator and injected it into his body. That saved him from death.
Zack: He...was dead? How do you know all of this?
Lyra: We had access to every camera feed that Onyx Technologies had. Everything was monitored. The Gryphonians tracked every single move in the complex.
Zack gets numerous flashbacks again, one that makes him remember more is the one when he was defending the Doominator from Blake and his friends.
Zack: Shit....my brain is just waking up...
Lyra: That's a good sign. Your body is being periodically revitalized.
Zack: So, you're saying that Blake's blood can speed up the developing process of the Reinvigorator vaccine?
Lyra: Not speed up. The blood that flows through his veins contains cells that have been transmuted into so-called regenerative super cells. Those cells are now able to heal any tissue wounds nearly instantaneously. This blood is essential to creating a replica of the Reinvigorator that would otherwise take us years to develop oh and did I mention that nobody knows how to do that? There's only one person capable of developing that vaccine...
Zack: Gyzmoo....
Lyra: Yes and he is one of the main targets of Project Zeta also known as Zeerox.
Zack: Wonderful. He has a name too. Well, I can tell you've been pretty preoccupied with creating pets like me in the labs and giving them sweet names. Now, let me guess, you want me to stop and destroy him.
Lyra: Correct.
Zack: If you want me to destroy him, then tell me more about his weaknesses if he has any. As its creator, you should know him more than anyone else.
Lyra: I've made him to be insusceptible to almost everything that can seriously harm a living being. Zeerox is relentless, belligerent and extremely resourceful. You should also know that he does not negotiate. And his weaknesses.....there are almost none...
Zack: WHAT?! How do you expect me to destroy him then? I don't even have any special super powers unlike him except...my extraordinary strength.
Lyra: Tell me Zack, did you notice anything strange each time you become emotional or enraged?
Zack: Yes I did. I lose my sanity and my eyes turn red...it's a very useful ability, really....
He starts picking his gear while he talks to Lyra....
Zack: I always thought my special abilities were my shooting skills...
Lyra: Look at the colors of your fur...do you think I've erroneously added that mixture of colors into your DNA structure?
Zack: Lyra, these colors are the reason why nobody wanted to make friends with me in Zootopia. They either laughed at me or were afraid of me. That's another cool ability on the list eh? My unnatural colors....
Lyra: I am sorry for what you endured.
Zack finishes picking up weapons for his journey....
Lyra: Those weapons you chose are the best in their class. The TRX400 plasma rifle and TA10 hand cannon are effective against Zeerox to some extent but are not enough for killing him.
Zack: We had a few of these at Onyx Technologies. They are very advantageous thanks to their incredible firing power and stability.
Lyra: Are you done with choosing your equipment?
Zack: As long as there isn't anything else you can recommend then yes.
Lyra: I am not a weapon specialist but some of those gadgets might come in handy.
Zack: Which ones?
Lyra: The time disruptor grenade. It disrupts time in its blast radius upon exploding. This is something that shouldn't be missing in your gear if you are going to face Zeerox. Next, but not least, incendiary grenades. You remember I said that he has ALMOST no weaknesses? Extreme heat is one. If you want to even the odds, heat is your best weapon.
Zack: A flamethrower would be a befitting weapon.
Lyra: We don't have any flamethrowers in this section unfortunately. You must look for other ways of exposing him to extreme heat.
Zack: Like an active volcano, that would do the trick.
Lyra: You should rather think about practical ideas Zack.
Zack: Got it. I am ready to do whatever you want me to do.
Lyra: Follow me...
After grabbing the equipment he needed, Zack follows Lyra out of the armory....
Zack: Lyra....when your friends took me to Zootopia, what happened to you?
Lyra: Neyla found out and of course I was held responsible for your disappearance. As a result, I was hibernated here for several years because of my disloyalty.
Zack: Neyla showed you mercy and spared your life and now you are scheming behind her back again.
Lyra: I've made so many mistakes in my life and I can undo them by setting you free so you can stop Zeerox from accomplishing his mission. That's the only way I can make myself feel less guilty even if the consequence is me dying.
Zack: You are strictly under the heel of the Odynhood Empire. Don't be their slave. Come with me so you can live your life in peace!
Lyra: Live my life in peace?
Zack: Yes! This is not life! This is slavery!
Lyra: I have a family in Zootopia...I can't go there....
Zack: Don't you want to be with them?!
Lyra: The day when I saved you from Neyla, she said if I ever attempt to escape, she will exterminate my "race" in Bunnyburrow. The fear of losing my loved ones is what holds me here.
Zack: Shit...Bunnyburrow isn't protected by the ZDF. I was there once and that little village can be erased from existence without a hitch. I think I am starting to understand your unwillingness to leave this place.
Lyra: It's the home of my many sisters and brothers. I can't lose them all. I am not making another mistake again. Let's focus on your final mission Zack.
Zack: My final mission....I don't have a master, a mentor or anyone who could provide support.
Lyra: You never had one before. You were controlled by your enemies and it's time for you to get that freedom you deserve. Stop Zeerox and freedom is yours.
Zack: I'll do my best. Hey, where is this Zeerox guy anyway?
Lyra: He is dormant. Neyla is planning to launch him to Zootopia in less than two hours. You have to get there first! Find Blake and his family and protect them from that monstrosity I created.
Zack: Wait, he has a new family?
Lyra: Yes, that's what I've been told. We got a few operatives in Zootopia who are on my side.
Zack: But the problem is, he probably still thinks I am the bad guy here. I need to mend fences with him before I am allowed to go near his family members. A lot has changed since Operation Thunderbolt. I've made some terrible mistakes too all because I've had misguided beliefs. Thank you for giving me the chance to redeem myself and be a better wolf.
Lyra: The future looked grim before this moment, you have the chance to make it bright. Do what you must and be very vigilant upon your arrival in Zootopia.
They enter a room with escape pods...
Zack: Lyra, these pods look cramped! I don't think these were made for big wolves over 2 meters tall like me.
Lyra: There's enough space for you and your gear in every one of them. Go get in. I'll set the coordinates.
Zack: Before I go, Zootopia is divided into many districts. I need to enter without being obtrusive. My arrival must be shrouded in secrecy you know?
Lyra: There's a place in the Rainforest District which is relatively deserted. That's the safest landing area. You'll be out of harm's way for some time.
Zack: All I want is a safe landing. That's it. Oh and....I nearly forgot to ask. This place seems....a bit empty....where's everyone?
Lyra: The guards and the scientists are currently off duty. They will be back very soon. That's why I need to get you out of here fast! We lost too much time talking with each other already.
Zack: Striking up this conversation was important because you just brought me back to reality. I could barely remember who I was when you woke me up...
Lyra: That's....true....
Zack: And Lyra...
Lyra: Yes?
Zack: When I get emotional or feel endangered....I feel some kind of energy sweep throughout my whole body. It's like....the more agitated and angrier I get, the more powerful I feel. I just...can't find a way to avail myself of this ability. Why does it happen to me if it doesn't bring me any benefits in battle?
Lyra: If your foe manages to instill enough rage or consternation in you, only then you may unleash the devil inside you. Trust me, you are more powerful than you think you are. You just have to discover your true nature yourself. Learn to control and tame the beast inside you. I know what I created and I know that this creation....you....can pose a real threat. The best weapon against Zeerox is YOU!
Zack: I hope you are right. I will destroy what you created. I am ready whenever you are. Shoot my ass into the sky....
Lyra pulls a lever on one of the pods and it opens....but then they start hearing footsteps coming from the chamber room....
Lyra: Someone's coming. Stay here and don't make any noise!
Zack: Now what?
Gryphon Guard: Weaver! Are you there?
Lyra: Gryphon guards! I'll deal with them. Stay here!
Zack: I can take them out!
Lyra: I said stay here!
Zack: They're off duty...she said.
Zack remains sheltered in place as Lyra walks out of the room. There are four guards waiting for her at the exit...
Lyra: Ah...you must be searching for me...I'm right here!
Gryphon Guard: We've been looking everywhere for you! Empress Odynhood demands your attendance at the initiation of Project Zeta this instant!
Lyra: Why would she send four guards after me like that? Do I look like I am planning something or what?
Gryphon Guard: You shouldn't be here. Your presence in the chamber room just increases suspension Lyra. Come with us immediately!
Lyra: I'll be right after you I just need to....
She pauses for a moment...
Gryphon Guard: You need to do what?
At that moment, one of the Gryphon guards spots an open chamber where Zack was hibernated....
Gryphon Guard 2: Subject Alpha is missing from his chamber!
Lyra: I just need you to give me a few minutes so I can provide you with some quality explanation!
The guards stay on alert as they hold Lyra at gunpoint...
Gryphon Guard: WHERE'S SUBJECT ALPHA?
Lyra remains quiet and nervous before the Gryphon guards are attacked by Zack with precise shots.
Zack: LOOKING FOR ME?
He takes out three of them before they are able to fire back. One of the guards manages to escape.
Zack: DON'T CHICKEN OUT NOW! COME BACK AND FACE ME YOU COWARD!
Lyra: ZACK! GET TO THE ESCAPE POD QUICKLY!
They both rush back into the room with escape pods. Zack gets into the launch pod....
Zack: So much for being subtle right?
Lyra: Listen closely, we may not see each other after this. The flight will be long and it will take a couple of hours to reach the set destination. Once you land, be sure to get out of the pod because it will self-destruct three minutes after impact.
Zack: Great, it's going to attract unnecessary attention and as a matter of fact I'll be shining all across the night sky like a star....
Lyra: You won't. The pod will be cloaked and hidden from the radars.
Zack: How am I going to get past the barrier?
Lyra: Fear not, the pod will enter the stratosphere where it will easily get past the Thunderbringer.
Zack: Come with me....
Lyra: I can't...I am sorry.
She inputs the coordinates and presses a big red button which initiates a countdown to launch.
Lyra: Enjoy the flight. Save my family, save the animal kingdom of Zootopia! Farewell my son....
Zack: LYRA!
Computer: Countdown to launch initiated!
Groups of Gryphon guards enter the chamber room with Gryphon Guardians who carry heavy glowing plasma battleaxes. The roof above the room with escape pods opens as Zack is about to be shot high up in the sky....
Computer: Launching in three...two...one. Launching Escape Pod now.
The pod's engines start and it gets launched into the sky leaving Lyra partially blinded in smoke. That's when the guards storm into the room....
Gryphon Guard: THERE SHE IS!
She gets shot by high voltage projectiles that knock her out. It's too late for them to stop the escape pod now as it successfully left the Gryphonian airspace and it cannot be targeted by their anti-aircraft defenses.
Lyra has been taken to a special room shortly after launching Zack. The room has only one chamber in it. Empress Odynhood is standing in the center of the room gazing upon possibly the most powerful and dangerous bio weapon ever created, Project Zeta. The guards come in, one of them carrying Lyra, half conscious. They throw her in front of Neyla....
Neyla: I was wondering why you would scurry away like a timid little rat minutes before Project Zeta's inception. This is your biggest and most prestigious creation and you just decided to not see its awakening.
Lyra slowly recovers from paralysis and manages to stand up on her feet...
Lyra: You should have started without me. I don't want to be near something that will instigate war. You are going to use it for bad purposes and that's something I will never support. I've worked on this thing for years against my own will just because you are way too weak to wage war on Zootopia's kingdom! You can't rule without your father!
Neyla: SILENCE! It was never my destiny to conquer Zootopia you insolent rabbit! You are partially right, I can't finish what my father started and that's why we needed you to create something that would help me resurrect my father by any means necessary. But this is not what I want to hear from you. You are a smart inventive rabbit, but that's overshadowed by TREACHERY!
Lyra: I did what I had to! I don't want my work to be exploited, not again.
Neyla: Subject Alpha is gone. You won't be able to explain this occurrence away! You've been granted clemency those many years ago after you and your friends conspired together to smuggle Subject Alpha out of Gryphonia. Is this how you repay my generosity?
Lyra: Abducting me from my home and making me work overtime almost every day just to help your empire are enough reasons for me to act dishonestly Neyla! I've had enough!!!
Neyla: I would have sent you back to your family if you stayed loyal to me. I didn't want to hurt you. All I wanted was your technological expertise and obedience. You could have earned your freedom today if you haven't released Subject Alpha. You really think he can blow a hole in Project Zeta?
Lyra: I believe he will overpower him and stop this madness once he uncovers his true power!
Neyla: He got overwhelmed by those frail beings back in Zootopia which resulted in a resounding victory for the Zootopians so what makes you think he would stop a one man army that is Zeerox?
Lyra: I know my creations well. He will endure and survive. End of talk.
Neyla: You'll never see your family ever again Lyra! You'll spend the rest of your life in Ember Island's penitentiary! Lazarus will be in a transport of delight once he learns a rabbit is being committed to his lovely prison teeming with the biggest criminals ever!
Lyra: Is this really the best you can do to deal with me? You can't just send me to Fort Wolkwenshire! That place ain't for bunnies!
Neyla: It's either your family or you who will suffer....
Lyra: Please leave my family alone! I'll suffer for them....
Neyla: I am sure you'll do. Ember Island awaits! Take her out of here!!!
The guards grab Lyra and lead her out of the room. Now it's just Neyla, a couple of scientists and Gryphon guardians who are left in the room with Project Zeta.
Neyla: Let's begin! Activate Project Zeta!
Gryphon Scientist: As you wish, Your Highness.
Zeerox is held in a special chamber. The scientists begin the activation program which fills the chamber with pure oxygen. He completely disappears from view in it as it gets filled to the brim with warm steam. A minute passes and two red glowing eyes appear in the thick cloud of steam making everyone present in the room keyed up.
Gryphon Scientist: Project Zeta activation successful.
The chamber opens and the cloud of steam spreads across the floor. Zeerox steps out of the chamber. Everyone in the room gazes at the towering beast with great admiration. It is a canine being, resembling a wolf. His eyes are glowing vivid red with no distinct irises, it's as if you were starting into the eyes of the devil. Even the Gryphon Guardians back away a bit from him because of feeling uneasy. His fur is green with the exception of his chest where it is snow white. It is now clearly visible that this is Lyra's biggest creation ever. Zeerox is massive in his brilliant physical shape. He does a long stretch before kneeling down in front of Neyla...
Zeerox: I am at your service, master.
Neyla: I am pleasantly surprised about your readiness to serve me right off the bat. I like it.
Zeerox: I was made to serve my master. I am awaiting orders.
Neyla: Your first assignment is going to be quite taxing but I don't suppose a brute like you will have any trouble achieving his mission.
Zeerox: There's no difficulty that I can't overcome. I will crush and destroy anyone who gets in my path.
Neyla orders one of her men to show some images of Blake Thunder captured from the surveillance cameras back at Onyx Technologies. They all pop up on a big screen. As she talks about each person, their pictures are shown on the screen for Zeerox to observe...
Neyla: There are four key people that I need you to take care of. Your main priority is to seize a red fox called Blake Thunder. Our operatives have tracked him down recently. He's living in the Foxenville Heights suburbs area with his partner and kids. Bring him back to Gryphonia! Next, we've lost contact with one of our high ranking operatives Sgt. Brutus fifteen years ago. Rumor has it he is kept in Zootopia's White Howler Prison. Your objective is to break into the prison, free him from that place and escort him safely to an exfil zone. Moving onto your next objective. There's a renowned scientist living in that city with critically acclaimed inventions and technologies. This scientist, Professor Gyzmoo, who previously worked for us before becoming a traitor, now owns a company that distributes advanced weaponry, medicine and all kinds of innovative tech. Their military is deriving all the benefits from it. Locate his company and raze it to the ground, then kill that little rat. That would be it but I am afraid you'll have to deal with something extra. Your creator launched another artificial creature known as Project Alpha to Zootopia to prevent you from accomplishing your mission. If by any chance, you encounter this failed creation, DESTROY IT! This is it. You are good to go, Zeerox. Once you succeed, it will really help us subjugate the animal kingdom in Zootopia and retake what's ours.
Zeerox: It's time for me to go hunting! But first, I request proper equipment for my mission.
Neyla: You'll get it....just....let this be finally over.
Zeerox: Master, I sense a heavy despondency in your voice...
Neyla: It's nothing. I just need my father back okay?! Your objectives are set. My Guardians will lead you to the armory where you will be given specialized equipment to suit your needs. Happy hunting.
Neyla leaves Zeerox and her guardians in the room. He stands up and makes the formidable guardians look small and weak next to him. He is then led out of the room straight into the armory where the guardians give him a special weapon called the Armsmorpher and few handy tools to support him on his mission. The one man army is now ready to be deployed. Will he successfully accomplish his mission or will this mission be too much for him to handle?