As night descended, the Smithsonian Zoo, which should have been calm, was bustling with activity. Bright beams of light crisscrossed over the animals, and the monitoring rooms were packed with concerned staff.
The zoo director, a gray-haired old man with glasses, usually exuded strength and kindness, but tonight his face was etched with anxiety and worry.
"How did Big White escape right under your noses?" he demanded, exasperated.
"It was Jenny. She was distracted by her phone during feeding, and Big White seized the opportunity to escape," accused the keeper who had taken one of the twin pandas.
"I was tweeting about Big White to promote the zoo," Jenny, the keeper in charge that night, retorted, rolling her eyes at the accusation.
"What were you doing in the monitoring room? Playing games?" the director pressed further.
"We were reviewing footage at Ms. Hilda's request. During today's check-up, she noted some anomalies in Big White's condition," explained the panda house team leader.
"Then why did all this happen today?" The director spread his hands in frustration, glaring at the room full of staff.
Silence hung heavy in the room as no one dared to respond. Big White's escape seemed too coincidental to explain.
Fortunately, someone soon broke the awkward silence.
"Director, we've compiled the surveillance footage of Big White's escape. Honestly, you'll be shocked," said a round-faced, bald man entering with a USB drive, disbelief written all over his face.
"If you were any later, you could be at home babysitting," the director snapped, snatching the USB drive and glaring at him.
Usually a gentle man, the director was furious, knowing this incident involved not just zoo interests but international diplomacy. If Big White escaped, especially with unexpected consequences, it could severely impact panda rentals and stir up public outrage in both countries.
The director inserted the USB into the computer, and everyone gathered to watch Big White's escape unfold on screen.
The footage began with Big White eating in the panda house while the keeper was distracted by her phone. Big White played with the remaining twin before the keeper began filming and tweeting.
Seizing the moment, Big White slipped from the rest house.
This part seemed coincidental, but what followed astonished everyone. Big White, familiar with the layout, navigated to the locker room, donned a panda headgear, and walked upright out the door.
The room's occupants widened their eyes in disbelief, with the director even removing his glasses to rub his eyes before looking again.
The footage showed Big White, with the headgear, kicking open the door and escaping.
Tranquilizer dart in tow, Big White dashed to the bird house, where a chorus of birds seemed to serenade his departure.
Finally, at the elephant house, with the cooperation of a baby elephant, Big White leaped over the high wall, escaping the zoo.
The surveillance ended with the parking lot scene, leaving no trace of Big White.
Whether he boarded a car and which one remains a mystery.
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The room fell silent after the video ended, the air thick with disbelief.
Images of Big White's daring escape filled everyone's minds—birds chirping, a baby elephant trumpeting, and a panda soaring over a wall.
Without prior knowledge, one might mistake it for an animal sci-fi film.
"Oh my God, does that panda know kung fu?" someone exclaimed.
"This must be some mysterious Eastern power!"
"I'm losing my mind."
"That panda is as smart as an adult, I'm sure of it."
The room erupted into chaos, everyone expressing their shock in familiar words.
Despite their amazement, one thing was clear: Big White had undergone some extraordinary transformation.
A planned escape, communication with other animals, walking on two feet...
"Whatever happened, don't release this footage yet. First, we need to find and bring back Big White," the director commanded, recovering his composure.
"Also, notify Hilda to invite all relevant animal researchers to study this panda's behavior."
"Understood!" Everyone nodded seriously, except one, who hesitated.
"Ned, do you have something to add?" the director asked, noticing his expression.
"Uh... There's some bad news. The video was already uploaded by Chelsea, who was editing it. It might be trending on Twitter now," Ned admitted sheepishly.
The director took a deep breath, his anger boiling over as he slammed the table.
"Damn it! Nothing good today!"
"I don't think it's all bad. If the video goes viral, more people will know about Big White. If he's lost, netizens can help find him," Ned suggested cautiously.
"Are you dense? If people notice anything unusual about the panda, don't you think they'll try to capture it for profit?"
"Why does the zoo hire idiots like you?" the director fumed, feeling helpless amidst the chaos.
"Check the video's status online. If it's not viral, delete it immediately!"