Caesar wasn't quite ready enough, Koba's feet hitting him hard in the chest, and he fell backwards with a snarl, dropping between the steel beams to the lower half of the structure and landing hard on his back. Koba jumped down on top of him, but Caesar lifted his feet and shoved, sending the other ape reeling backwards.
They both climbed up and again Koba struck first, both hands smashing down towards Caesar, who barely turned his shoulder in time, taking the blow on his back, rather than his head.
The blows continued, Koba pressing forwards, Caesar retreating under the storm, being pushed further and further towards the edge.
I drew in a hissing breath, then gasped as he finally dodged too far, and fell. Somehow, one of his feet caught Koba's ankle, flinging the scarred ape off his perch as Caesar toppled backwards, both falling towards me. There was an almighty clang overhead and I flinched, covering my face and turning away as pipes and pieces of scaffolding rained down.
Concerned hoots echoed around from the apes as I straightened up again. I could see Blue Eyes above me, his head bobbing as he looked down. His cries calmed somewhat and I guessed Caesar must be okay but I couldn't see him through the newly fallen debris. I could see Koba though, touching a raw wound on his side. First blood.
Koba gave another angry scream, casting around and picking up a length of steel rod.
I swallowed. Not good.
Koba launched himself from his high ground and Caesar came back into my view as he retreated, leaping backwards and taking off through the maze of steel girders, moving away from me. The other apes swung around after them, chasing the fight. I took off in the other direction, racing back towards the ladder I'd climbed. Time to descend a little. I hadn't planned to be this close to the fight.
.
.
I made it down 3 floors before coming to a halt, hearing Koba's shouts but unable to pick out words. Hurrying over to the internal cavity, I looked up. Caesar was outlined against the sky, his steps weary as he moved back towards the edge but he halted and stood strong and tall, staring down the foe I couldn't see.
My heart roared with triumph to see him still upright, so fierce despite his injury. The next second I quailed, as there was a scream of fury and a huge tower of scaffolding beyond Caesar began to fall.
My wordless shout was lost in the howling of the other apes as the floor collapsed beneath him. For one second, I lost sight of him among the tumbling debris but then, with a great wrench of my heart, I saw a dark shape break free, flying through the open space at the centre of the tower. I didn't even have time to scream. Was I really meant to watch him fall twice?
Somehow, magically, his fist closed on a dangling chain from the crane above and he swung back and forth. Alive.
Koba had also fallen prey to the collapsing floor, and he'd taken the same solution. For an instant, they danced around each other, swinging wildly. Then, inevitably, they collided.
It was close, vicious, and messy. Their blows were wild, and missed more often than not, lashing out with their feet as well as their hands. I thought Caesar was fading, forced to hold himself up with his injured side to land more powerful blows, and the strain was showing. My breath hissed through my teeth as I leaned further out, my eyes darting to follow the fight. I should have been looking down.
The explosion made my jaw clamp shut, my ears ringing and I literally threw myself backwards, away from the roaring fireball, landing hard and rolling, hands over my head as the entire structure swayed.
The fireball dissipated before it reached me, but I still felt the wave of heat searing my hands, ruffling my hair as it passed. I remained motionless, listening to the crashes and groaning, sure that any second would be my last as the tower caved in and crushed me.
But I was still alive, and remained alive as the groans subsided into silence.
With a groan, I lifted my head, coughing at the dust and smoke on the air. Apes were shrieking, the high pitch grating against the occasional rumble as the tower settled again. Stumbling back to the edge, I looked out. The crane had collapsed, shards of yellow metal thrown in all directions, a huge section balanced precariously below me. Sheets of corrugated steel had slid down, thrown haphazardly around to rest against bent pipes and whole sections of walls and floors had caved in.
Two levels above me, a familiar ape bounded recklessly over a hanging ledge, pulling up apes who'd fallen, pausing over those who lay still. All around, other apes were doing the same, checking their comrades, freeing those trapped by rubble. I scrambled to the right, ready to lend a hand when I saw something that made me stop.
Koba, lifting a huge piece of steel mesh off of a fallen ape, who was hooting in pain.
I stood frozen, unable to move. Maybe, just maybe, there was still hope for him. At this crucial moment, he was helping. Even though his back was to me, a perfect chance to eliminate him once and for all, I hesitated. In that second, I almost believed.
Then Koba picked up the rifle that had lain on the ape's stomach and dropped the steel back onto him. My heart hardened with anger and I hated myself for my moment of weakness as he moved out of view. He emerged on the other side of an upright pipe and raised the gun.
I turned my head, saw Blue Eyes working beside his father, freeing several apes, but there was no time for me to call out. Even as I opened my mouth, the rifle fired, and bullets ricocheted over their heads. Koba's second burst of gunfire was better aimed as he climbed up a fallen piece of the crane, and a gorilla who'd just stood up jerked horribly before falling backwards, his death giving Caesar and Blue Eyes enough time to scamper out of sight behind a huge shaft of red steel.
I saw a flash of fur, moving fast to the right, despite the continued hail of bullets.
Seconds later, Blue Eyes appeared on the ledge, hurling a complete bundle of steel rods through the air. They fell short, crashing down and scattering only a foot in front of Koba, who snarled and turned his rifle on Blue Eyes, just as other apes came up beside him. They all scattered, but Maurice gave a shocked hoot and collapsed.
Koba growled again, swinging his gun back and forth as he continued to fire. He had them all pinned down.
My hand reached down for my pistol, but much too slowly, getting tangled as I stepped forwards.
"KOBA!"
He turned, rifle falling as he spun, his one eye searching. It found me quickly.
For a second we stared, both faces twisted with hateful snarls. The barrel of the rifle began to rise while my hand was still scrabbling uselessly in my pocket.
A flash of dark fur came out of nowhere, literally falling from the sky to collide with Koba. The pair of them both went tumbling back down towards me and I dived away, ducking back behind a pillar and peering out the side.
It was Caesar who came rolling to a halt only metres away from me, silent and still. I could hear Koba's growling and quickly glanced away, peering over the edge to where Koba was hanging from an exposed beam with one hand.
Turning back, I was relieved to see Caesar stirring, climbing to his feet. He gave me one unreadable glance but I wasn't fazed by his anger. I just darted my eyes sideways, indicating where Koba was and watched his focus change.
As he moved forwards, I shifted the other way again, hanging by the fingers of my right hand as I leaned out to watch. The other apes were all doing the same, one of them mere feet away from me but not caring, all of us focused on the one dangling above a deadly drop and the one standing over him.
"Ape... not... kill ape."
My eyes widened, stunned by Koba's words. He would use that now? After everything he'd done? All the deaths he'd caused? My gaze, like that of all those around me, moved to Caesar. For an instant, he didn't say anything and I swallowed.
Very slowly, he crouched down, reaching for Koba.
I bowed my head as my heart broke.
Thoughts whirled through my head too fast for me to track.
Yes, this was a good thing.
No! How could Caesar be so foolish?
How could I have been so foolish as to allow a spark of hope? I would run, at once. Whether he truly repented or not, I wouldn't tempt Koba like that. I wouldn't tempt Caesar's peace.
There was such strength in Caesar's body as he lifted Koba up, and such weakness in the gesture.
I wanted to scream, to rage at him, to challenge whatever logic he thought this was.
His head came up slightly as if he'd heard my thoughts. I couldn't see his expression but his head turned and I followed his gaze.
Blue Eyes, supporting Maurice, who had a hand over the side of his head, steadied on the other side by Rocket and Luca. Caesar's truly loyal followers.
He looked back down at Koba.
"You... are not ape."
He let go.
Koba screamed as he fell.