Zaius sat at his desk, looking up into the furious militia commander's
face. The older orangutan's eyes were pale and watery, yet implacable.
"Urko, you committed a grave error when you burned the human village. The
Council is highly displeased. I am highly displeased. Do you realize the
power you have handed to the dissidents with this foolishness?"
Urko's fists ached with the need to pound the orangutan's clever, deceptive face into the ground. His fingers, curled into fists, felt as if made of stone. Yet he held his rage in check. To do otherwise would mean the end of his career.
Zaius continued. "You placed proof of gorilla brutality into the out- stretched palms of the protesters, as if bestowing a gift upon their cause." In a rare display of emotion, Zaius snorted and slammed his hand onto his desk. "You helped them, Urko!"
"Galen and his astronauts had been protected by the residents of that village for days!" Urko roared back. "I could not allow their defiance to go unpunished, and neither should you - nor this Council body! And if the chimpanzees continue in their protests, I will deal with them in a similar manner!"
"The dissidents will be dealt with, Urko, but with brains, not brawn. The citizens of Central City will not allow you free rein to brutalize those chimpanzees - some of which are the best and brightest this city has to offer. Not to mention they are also the progeny of some very influential families. Don't underestimate their voice within this Council. No, Urko, if you continue down this path, you commit political suicide. There can be no more mistakes such as this," Zaius stated.
Urko looked both miserable and grim as he listened to Zaius's reasoned arguments. His anger was such that he felt his rigid fingers would snap off if he tried to uncurl them.
Zaius wisely changed the subject. "Have there been any sightings of the fugitives?"
"None," Urko rapped out, still seething.
"With that disk in your possession, it is only a matter of time."
"And then we'll have them…. at last. I have guards posted all around this office, and my own, and of course, at Yalu's home," Urko gloated, momentarily diverted.
A knock on the wooden door interrupted the conversation. Zaius's chimpanzee assistant walked into the room. "Pardon, sirs, but an incident has arisen that requires your immediate attention."
"Out with it!" snapped Urko.
"The dissidents… it seems they have gathered yet again," the chimpanzee replied. "In the middle of the Commerce Plaza, this time. The commanding officer has sent word that there is no peaceful way to disperse them." Both apes reacted immediately by heading for the door. Zaius paused, looking back thoughtfully. Was it his imagination, or was there a hint of… glee in the eyes of his assistant as he turned away? Zaius shook his head. Perhaps he'd imagined it.
If not, Zaius knew something had been started in this City, something stronger than he'd realized. It could be that Urko would have his way, after all. Perhaps brutality would be the only answer. If that's what it took. The stability of their civilization was, after all, more important than political gain.
Zaius followed Urko out the door.
-------------------------
The three friends huddled uneasily at the back of a stone building. They awaited the passing of yet another gorilla soldier on patrol. Several hours earlier, the three had made the extremely risky decision to intercept Pergis at the secret meeting Galen had learned about the night before. It was held at an old university outbuilding, currently not in use. The fugitives had gained entry into the building after convincing a chimpanzee on look-out of their identities. The poor chimp student had been quite star-struck upon realizing that he was speaking with the notorious Galen himself. Galen had been quite full of himself until the utter failure of their mission to convince Pergis to abandon his dangerous quest.
Not only had they failed - the plan had back-fired. The dissidents, upon seeing Galen and his friends, had achieved an almost religious fervor, dismaying the three who attempted to plead caution.
The trio had decided to withdraw from the heart of the city until after nightfall, at least. But their retreat was taking quite a bit of time, as Urko's gorillas prowled the city in great numbers.
The friends spoke casually amongst themselves. No one would ever guess they'd failed miserably in their mission, and were now in terrible danger.
"…I can see the family resemblance, Galen," Virdon said wryly, as the three watched the gorilla soldier.
"Hmm…what?" Galen replied absently, thinking about their next course of action.
"You and Pergis. You two are the most hard-headed mon….," began Burke, hastily remedying his comment at Galen's sharp glance, "chimps we've ever met."
"Obviously a family trait. Look at your father," Virdon pointed out.
"Of course you're right. Lucky you humans have no such failings. Do you know, I've never seen the slightest hint of stubbornness in either of you? I'm quite impressed," Galen replied. The two humans exchanged humorous glances.
"Sarcasm, too. Another family trait," Burke added.
"Good thing you're not like that, Pete," Virdon said, cocking his eyebrow at Burke. Galen snorted.
"Now, your mom, Galen - she's a tough customer," said Burke. Galen turned to face Pete. "See this?" he continued, pointing to the bluish bruishes and swelling around his nose. "She cold-cocked me last night. Said I wouldn't listen to reason. I've seen you looking at me lately, buddy - you've had the same urge. But ---"
"Let's move- now," Virdon commanded, seeing opportunity present itself. Galen patted Burke's cheek playfully - if a bit hard - and Burke winced as the three moved on.
The streets seemed less crowded, and the three glanced at each other. "Something's going on," Galen commented. "Everyone seems to be going in one direction."
"Whatever it is, it might help us get out of here alive. Just go with the flow, for now. Then we'll cut out," Virdon replied, then smiled at Galen's look. "I mean, we'll follow the crowd for awhile," he amended. The three walked out in the open, Galen in the lead, trying to seem casual.
"Up ahead," Burke said. "whatever it is. The crowd's gathering."
"Time to make a break," Virdon answered.
"Wait - don't you want to see what's going on?" asked Galen, looking back at Virdon.
Burke stared at him disbelievingly. "Oh, yeah… I forgot about that other annoying family trait. Curiosity. Haven't you ever heard the saying, 'Curiosity killed the cat'?" Burke asked.
Galen looked puzzled. " A cat? What does a cat have to do with this?" He gestured impatiently at Burke. "Never mind. You two stay back, and I'll just check this out." He looked at Virdon.
Virdon sighed. "Galen, this is an unnecessary risk… but I have a feeling that we need to know as much as possible what's going on in this city…. Okay. But be careful," he said, and gestured Galen forward.
Galen walked down the city street, growing crowded with pedestrians the further he walked. Rubbing shoulders with chimps and orangutans, he resolutely avoided the gaze of the gorilla soldiers on horseback. The jostling crowd generated an uncomfortable heat. Intent on moving forward, and staring at the backs of those before him, Galen's head snapped up in shock as he heard a voice address the crowd.
He knew that voice.
It was Pergis.
Urko's fists ached with the need to pound the orangutan's clever, deceptive face into the ground. His fingers, curled into fists, felt as if made of stone. Yet he held his rage in check. To do otherwise would mean the end of his career.
Zaius continued. "You placed proof of gorilla brutality into the out- stretched palms of the protesters, as if bestowing a gift upon their cause." In a rare display of emotion, Zaius snorted and slammed his hand onto his desk. "You helped them, Urko!"
"Galen and his astronauts had been protected by the residents of that village for days!" Urko roared back. "I could not allow their defiance to go unpunished, and neither should you - nor this Council body! And if the chimpanzees continue in their protests, I will deal with them in a similar manner!"
"The dissidents will be dealt with, Urko, but with brains, not brawn. The citizens of Central City will not allow you free rein to brutalize those chimpanzees - some of which are the best and brightest this city has to offer. Not to mention they are also the progeny of some very influential families. Don't underestimate their voice within this Council. No, Urko, if you continue down this path, you commit political suicide. There can be no more mistakes such as this," Zaius stated.
Urko looked both miserable and grim as he listened to Zaius's reasoned arguments. His anger was such that he felt his rigid fingers would snap off if he tried to uncurl them.
Zaius wisely changed the subject. "Have there been any sightings of the fugitives?"
"None," Urko rapped out, still seething.
"With that disk in your possession, it is only a matter of time."
"And then we'll have them…. at last. I have guards posted all around this office, and my own, and of course, at Yalu's home," Urko gloated, momentarily diverted.
A knock on the wooden door interrupted the conversation. Zaius's chimpanzee assistant walked into the room. "Pardon, sirs, but an incident has arisen that requires your immediate attention."
"Out with it!" snapped Urko.
"The dissidents… it seems they have gathered yet again," the chimpanzee replied. "In the middle of the Commerce Plaza, this time. The commanding officer has sent word that there is no peaceful way to disperse them." Both apes reacted immediately by heading for the door. Zaius paused, looking back thoughtfully. Was it his imagination, or was there a hint of… glee in the eyes of his assistant as he turned away? Zaius shook his head. Perhaps he'd imagined it.
If not, Zaius knew something had been started in this City, something stronger than he'd realized. It could be that Urko would have his way, after all. Perhaps brutality would be the only answer. If that's what it took. The stability of their civilization was, after all, more important than political gain.
Zaius followed Urko out the door.
-------------------------
The three friends huddled uneasily at the back of a stone building. They awaited the passing of yet another gorilla soldier on patrol. Several hours earlier, the three had made the extremely risky decision to intercept Pergis at the secret meeting Galen had learned about the night before. It was held at an old university outbuilding, currently not in use. The fugitives had gained entry into the building after convincing a chimpanzee on look-out of their identities. The poor chimp student had been quite star-struck upon realizing that he was speaking with the notorious Galen himself. Galen had been quite full of himself until the utter failure of their mission to convince Pergis to abandon his dangerous quest.
Not only had they failed - the plan had back-fired. The dissidents, upon seeing Galen and his friends, had achieved an almost religious fervor, dismaying the three who attempted to plead caution.
The trio had decided to withdraw from the heart of the city until after nightfall, at least. But their retreat was taking quite a bit of time, as Urko's gorillas prowled the city in great numbers.
The friends spoke casually amongst themselves. No one would ever guess they'd failed miserably in their mission, and were now in terrible danger.
"…I can see the family resemblance, Galen," Virdon said wryly, as the three watched the gorilla soldier.
"Hmm…what?" Galen replied absently, thinking about their next course of action.
"You and Pergis. You two are the most hard-headed mon….," began Burke, hastily remedying his comment at Galen's sharp glance, "chimps we've ever met."
"Obviously a family trait. Look at your father," Virdon pointed out.
"Of course you're right. Lucky you humans have no such failings. Do you know, I've never seen the slightest hint of stubbornness in either of you? I'm quite impressed," Galen replied. The two humans exchanged humorous glances.
"Sarcasm, too. Another family trait," Burke added.
"Good thing you're not like that, Pete," Virdon said, cocking his eyebrow at Burke. Galen snorted.
"Now, your mom, Galen - she's a tough customer," said Burke. Galen turned to face Pete. "See this?" he continued, pointing to the bluish bruishes and swelling around his nose. "She cold-cocked me last night. Said I wouldn't listen to reason. I've seen you looking at me lately, buddy - you've had the same urge. But ---"
"Let's move- now," Virdon commanded, seeing opportunity present itself. Galen patted Burke's cheek playfully - if a bit hard - and Burke winced as the three moved on.
The streets seemed less crowded, and the three glanced at each other. "Something's going on," Galen commented. "Everyone seems to be going in one direction."
"Whatever it is, it might help us get out of here alive. Just go with the flow, for now. Then we'll cut out," Virdon replied, then smiled at Galen's look. "I mean, we'll follow the crowd for awhile," he amended. The three walked out in the open, Galen in the lead, trying to seem casual.
"Up ahead," Burke said. "whatever it is. The crowd's gathering."
"Time to make a break," Virdon answered.
"Wait - don't you want to see what's going on?" asked Galen, looking back at Virdon.
Burke stared at him disbelievingly. "Oh, yeah… I forgot about that other annoying family trait. Curiosity. Haven't you ever heard the saying, 'Curiosity killed the cat'?" Burke asked.
Galen looked puzzled. " A cat? What does a cat have to do with this?" He gestured impatiently at Burke. "Never mind. You two stay back, and I'll just check this out." He looked at Virdon.
Virdon sighed. "Galen, this is an unnecessary risk… but I have a feeling that we need to know as much as possible what's going on in this city…. Okay. But be careful," he said, and gestured Galen forward.
Galen walked down the city street, growing crowded with pedestrians the further he walked. Rubbing shoulders with chimps and orangutans, he resolutely avoided the gaze of the gorilla soldiers on horseback. The jostling crowd generated an uncomfortable heat. Intent on moving forward, and staring at the backs of those before him, Galen's head snapped up in shock as he heard a voice address the crowd.
He knew that voice.
It was Pergis.
