CHAPTER TWO

INFILTRATION

Pete cocked his head to the side as he stared at the sandy brown buildings of the "city". A few thousand years ago, it wouldn't have even qualified as a village. But then, even Central City, their largest settlement, was no bigger than most of the little hick towns in the world he had grown up in. This place was not as large as Central City, but it wasn't as small as some of the others they'd seen since their fun and exciting adventure had begun.

"So does the love of humans extend this far north?"

Galen glanced at him. Going all the way around a Kotar City for the sake of not being able to walk through it had worn on Pete every step of the way, and he knew it. Still, it had been necessary. Here, they were not in as much danger as they would have been there, but it was still not the safest place in the world for them.

"We won't draw much attention to ourselves here, if that is what you are wanting to know."

No upstanding citizen would outwardly admit to being human lover; that was one of the worst names that a good, moral ape could be called. This particular city wasn't as anti-human as Kotar, but then again it wasn't as liberal as some of the other cities that they had been through.

From what he could gather in Kotar City, neither the prefect there nor here believed in owning humans. They shared the belief that the only good human was a dead human, not even worth to be used as a slave or servant. That they contaminated everything they touched. The difference between the two cities lie in the fact that while citizens of Kotar openly hunted humans, and executed them just outside the city limits, visitors were allowed to safely bring humans into Pagon City. They were only allowed for a short time, and required to be very well behaved, but as long as they did not stray too far from their masters... they were relatively safe. Galen couldn't help but wonder how the citizens were reacting to the survivors of the crash.

"We need to get to that ship before Urko does." Galen snapped out of his thoughts and turned to look at Alan. The human had been unable to calm himself since he had heard about the ship. Galen found himself bearing equal parts of excitement by what they might find, and concern that it could be devastating to Alan if in fact there was nothing to find at all...

"So anyone got a plan?" Pete was scanning the city below them, probably looking for what might constitute the city jail. His voice held no expectation, and Galen guessed that he was more inclined to feel concern than excitement. "Since we've ruled out running into the city and announcing ourselves?"

Alan's eyes narrowed just slightly on the city below, and then he turned to Galen. "How well do you know this city?"

Galen shook his head. "Not at all, I'm afraid." He offered a sympathetic smile. "I was lucky to have an acquaintance in Kotar." He shifted, and tilted his head slightly. "You know, he told me that this was used as a military outpost until a few years back, when other families started moving out here." He paused for a moment to ponder the interesting but useless piece of information. "But personally I've never been this far east."

Pete squinted, shielding his eyes from the early afternoon sun. "You know... this would be a whole lot easier if we didn't have the sun in our eyes... know what I mean?", Galen glanced to him as he pointed. "That looks like it's most likely their jail... but I dunno if it's such a good idea to walk up and knock in broad daylight..."

"Urko has no trouble traveling during the day," Alan reminded him. "Every minute we spend here, he gets closer and closer. And if it's four day's ride from Central City here... I wouldn't be surprised if he showed up in two."

"Well, maybe I could help," Galen volunteered. "If I said I was an official from Central City and needed information to report back to Zaius with."

Pete shot a skeptical look in his direction. "How you gonna explain that you got here so quick from Central City?"

"Yeah, quicker than Urko," Alan added.

Galen considered that for a moment. "Well, I was commissioned by Councilor Zaius to investigate all claims of strange humans in the known territory and I so happened to be in the messenger's path."

"They've already got a messenger reporting to Zaius," Alan pointed out.

"It wouldn't work," Pete agreed.

Galen half-glared at them both. "Now, that messenger knew nothing about the surviving humans or the ship other than that they existed," he reminded. "Zaius will want more detailed information than that."

Pete shook his head and looked away. "I still think it's a stupid risk. We're better to just wait until nightfall."

"Oh, and what?" Galen demanded, feeling his frustration grow. "Walk up to the jail and nicely ask them to release the humans?"

"Wouldn't be the first time," Pete answered, not half as irritated as his friend.

"You'll be attracting a lot of unnecessary attention to yourself in the process," Alan reminded. "What if someone recognizes you?"

"This far east?" Galen laughed. "My dear boy, even the local patrols who have been commissioned by Urko to restrain me do not recognize me! And besides, we can wait until it gets closer to dusk if it will make you feel any better."

There was no answer to that. Galen looked back and forth between the two of them, reading the uncertainty on both their faces. "Oh, come now, do you honestly believe that it is any less risky for two humans to walk up to the jail doors and confront soldiers and guns at point blank?"

Pete looked away. As much as he hated to admit it, Galen was right. It would be no less dangerous any way they did it. Besides, once that messenger reached Urko, he would ride day and night if he was able, and he would be here in half the time it might otherwise take. Alan was right about that. They were on the clock. They needed twice the sex with half the foreplay, and until Urko arrived, they would be no worse off for being recognized and captured than they would for standing on the outskirts of the city and watching. Alan wasn't going to leave without those survivors, so they might as well be just as trapped as they were...

At long length, Alan gave a heartfelt sigh. "All right, we'll go in."

Galen nodded his approval, and smiled. "I have to say that you two look pretty scruffy for being Assistant Heluis's servants..."

Pete shot him a pathetic look, and then turned his gaze back to the city. "Yeah, what else is new..."

"So," Galen paused. "Do you still want to wait till it gets dark?"

"Time is of the essesence," Alan protested. He was far too jittery to sit still. "We need to get them out as quickly as possible."

"But," argued Galen, "if we wait until dusk then it will be plausible that we have been traveling all day and that will account for our appearances. Besides, we won't be able to break the survivors out until after dark anyways. Once we're inside the city, we will have to account for our whereabouts."

Alan frowned, and finally sighed. He looked to Pete, and received a shrug, then turned back to Galen. "Okay, you win. But we set out as soon as the shadows start to fall."

Pete eyed him for a moment. He looked a lot like he was pouting. That brought a smirk to Pete's face, but he kept his mouth shut. One look at the assumed jail wiped the smile away, and he sighed. There were people in that building, maybe from their own time. He might not like the risk... but he knew damn well he couldn't turn his back on it either...

Pete was dozing, half asleep, not really aware of the time but still acutely aware of the world around him. He was also aware of the fact that it had been a good long time since he'd eaten. "I need food," he informed the sky.

Almost immediately a piece of bread hit him the face. He jolted, and it took him a few seconds for Pete to realize what had hit him and where it had come from. Galen quickly resumed a normal posture, trying not to snicker at the look of surprise on Pete's face. Usually it was Pete who surprised him, but this time the ape had gotten the better of him.

After a brief glare in his direction, Pete reached for the bread. "Thanks." His voice dripped sarcasm.

Galen smiled and nodded politely, and glanced up as Alan stood and stretched. The sun was nearing the five o'clock position in the sky and he knew Alan was anxious to approach the city. "Well, I suppose it is time for us to be moving on."

"You know what this tastes like?" They both glanced at Pete as he picked at the bread for a moment. Pete looked to Alan and smirked a bit. "Sawdust. Kinda stuff they used to serve in school cafeterias, you know? Sawdust and soy burgers. Soylent green..." His smirk turned a bit bigger.

Alan gave him a brief smile, but Galen's jaw hung slack. "You had to eat sawdust?" He was incredulous. And Pete and Alan thought that they were being treated poorly now? Who would serve sawdust to anyone? Surely no ape would stoop that low!

Pete shrugged as he stood, still picking at the bread. "Sometimes you don't know what you're eating..." His grin remained in place.

Alan was already pacing. One glance at him and Galen shouldered his knapsack. "We had better be getting along," he mumbled. "It will take us about ten minutes to get there, but we should come in by the road."

Pete yawned, and ate a few more bites, looking down at the shadowed buildings and then back at his friends. Finally, he took an exaggerated step back and gestured to Galen to walk first. "So how're you gonna explain no horse this time?" he questioned, amused.

"Oh, it was a sad fate that dear Quincy had a stone in her hoof that my incompitable servants were unable to get out."

"Quincy?" Alan hadn't really been paying attention until the name caught his attention.

Galen shrugged his shoulders as he pushed his way through the underbrush. "It will do."

Pete nodded as he followed alongside Alan. "So what happens when incomptible servants revolt?" he mused. Galen gave Pete a quick glare and continued his way to the road.

The city was not completely shut down, but the streets were emptier than they might have been earlier in the day. The trio attracted a few stares, but they were not approached. Pete's eyes wandered over the buildings, and he picked out a few he knew to look for. A hospital, a school, a jail and what might have once counted as a police station. He wasn't sure what they would call it in this time and place... He kept a safe - "respectable" was the word Galen always used - distance behind his "master", observing the world around him carefully.

Finally, he leaned toward Alan. "S'it just me," he mumbled, his voice low, "or are there no humans in sight...?"

"Yeah, I wonder where they all are."

Pete nodded, and kept his head down. He was clearly uneasy. Not afraid... but uneasy. "I was joking when I asked if they were as human friendly as that Kotar City back there." He gestured back over his shoulder. "But now I kinda wonder..."

Suddenly, Galen turned on heel to face his two "servants". "How many times must I tell you not to speak unless spoken to! I should have you beat!"

Alan cringed inwardly as he felt Pete stiffen at his side, and dropped his head respectfully. "Yes, master."

Pete was very careful not to glare as he dropped his head low. He knew the role, and he knew how to play it. Still, he had to bite his tongue, hard every time. Fuckin' college education and years of NASA training... for this. He held back the growl. He wasn't mad at Galen; he knew his friend was just following the roles of society. It was a necessary act to follow if they wanted to stay alive. Still, something inside of him seethed at the humiliation, the way it always did when he was barked at like a dog. Somehow, it made his chest tighten even more to hear Alan voice his submission. Colonel Alan Virdon, his superior! Fuck...

He ran his tongue over the back of his teeth, and kept his head down, emotions well masked. He'd trained himself carefully in that respect. The last thing he needed was to make Galen feel as if this... hate... was directed at him. It was not. It was directed at this entire place, and his own pride that made it so hard to fit in here...

"Good." Galen turned his nose up, and wagged a finger at them. "Then don't do it again or you will pay the price."

Every so often, Pete could laugh about it. Every so often, he found himself teasing Galen almost good-naturedly about the master/slave relationship they were so frequently presumed to have. But more often than not, it filled him with a sense of indignant anger that he masked with silence or with cynicism. He knew it was stupid. There was no use in getting angry over it. It would make no difference whatsoever in the greater scope of things whether he obeyed and accepted it, or obeyed and hated it. He wasn't going to change the world with his emotions. And a part of him wished that he had the ability Alan had to simply let it roll off his back.

"Excuse me..." Pete raised his eyes to see who Galen was speaking to, but kept his head bowed. It was a young chimpanzee girl. Pete was no good guessing ages of another species, but he presumed she might be about seven or eight. "Do you know where I might find the prefect?"

The girl looked up at him, and tipped her head as she inspected the two humans standing behind him. Finally, she pointed to the side. "It's down there just a little ways, on the right."

Pete hung back - respectable, he reminded himself - as they approached the prefect's house. He'd come to recognize the markings by now. And he had a feeling he'd not be going in. Head still down, he said nothing as Galen approached the door, steadied himself, and knocked.

"Be careful, Galen," Pete whispered under his breath.

With an almost imperceptible nod, he was acknowledged. The door swung open and an older ape stood before them, eyes running over them all. His eyes seemed to linger on the dirty, unkept humans. "Yes? May I help you?"

Galen smiled. "Good evening, sir. If I may introduce myself, I am Helius." He tipped his head, still smiling in perfect comfort with his surroundings. "I was coming from Central City when I met up with your messenger about the strange incidents that have been going on around here..."

The prefect shot him a questioning look, but said nothing. He was not yet certain what that was supposed to mean to him. Of course, he knew of what "strange incidents" the ape spoke, but he was not entirely sure that he welcomed strangers' inquiries about them.

It took Pete all of two point five seconds to realize that this guy was not going to make things easy for them. Again, he silently wished Galen luck. "My servants and I are here to help investigate." He gestured loosely at the two humans, and Pete's eyes darted away from the prefect. "Unfortunately my horse became crippled on the way here so it took us longer than expected. Perhaps you could direct me to some lodgings where I might be able to spend the night?"

The prefect's eyes narrowed just slightly, and he inspected the figure standing before him. "On whose authority... did you say you were here to... 'investigate'? With your human servants...?" The distaste was evident in his voice.

Alan could feel the hostility radiating from the prefect towards him and Pete. The ape was not being outright unfriendly, but his caution and distrust was evident. Galen had his work cut out for him...

But he adapted well enough, straightening just slightly at the prospect of being questioned. "I was sent directly from the High Council, by Zaius himself," he informed haughtily. He knew he was pushing it, but it made a convincing act... he hoped. "I am sure he thought that I would be treated with respect."

The ape studied him for a long moment, then stepped back, pulling the door open and gesturing him inside. "Please, do come in. Though I must insist that your... servants..." He cast another glance at the humans. "... stay outside."

Pete was heartbroken. Really he was. Somewhere inside, he'd really wanted to go into this high and mighty talking ape's home. Yeah, right...

"If you cause any trouble, I will be forced to punish you." Galen's tone matched his environment. "Stay here."

Pete waited until the door shut in his face, then let out the low growl that had been building in his throat. He turned, and leaned against the rock wall, arms crossed over his chest. He looked relaxed enough, but his eyes said otherwise. Just to his right, Alan propped himself against the wall. "Guess we wait 'til 'Master' Helius comes out." Alan surprised himself with the amount of sarcasm he was able to feel. Usually he left all that up to Pete. But something about being here, in this place where freedom was so close he could taste it... he found himself uncharacteristically impatient.

"Guess so." Pete's voice was low and clipped, and Alan glanced at him. He said nothing more, letting his eyes wander over his surroundings. It was a forced calm, Alan knew, but none of the passing apes - though they certainly did turn and stare - would be able to tell that. It was only his eyes that betrayed him, and Alan read them like a book. It was easy when all he really had to do was look inside himself, and the way he felt under his own mask of calm.

There was that he would have liked more than to rush over to the jail, break the survivors out, and go look for the ship. But that wasn't wise. In fact, it was flat-out stupid to take risks like that when there was a better way. Still, it was a lingering thought. While he had every faith in Galen... the helplessness of sitting and waiting for him to hand them success was painful.

Pete sighed, and lowered his head as he kicked at the dirt a bit. "You know... I've not had a whole lot of use for those nuclear physics classes around here..." His voice was cynical and sarcastic. It wasn't necessary for him to spell out what he meant by that; Alan knew. And no one else who might have heard him even knew what nuclear physics were. He was more educated than this entire city put together, and what the hell good did it do him here? That ground him every time he thought about it. And at the same time, it was as if a little piece of his pride died every time that he was forced to bow down to ape supremacy.

"Well, once we find that ship, those classes might come in handy. You never know."

Pete kept his head down. "You really think they left that ship intact, Alan?"

Alan glanced at him. He wasn't really challenging that belief, just questioning. "We can hope," he admitted. He couldn't bring himself to even think otherwise. Not yet. Not when it was so close...

A burst of laughter from inside the prefect's house interrupted his thoughts. He sighed, and shook his head. "At least the weather's nice," he offered.

Pete looked up at the sky, and his eyes lingered for a long moment. "So we're hoping... to make a working spaceship out of crashed remains that we hope are still salvageable... and fly out into space?" He glanced at Alan, brows raised. "Or are you still hoping that we're gonna be able to read the disk and send ourselves back through time? 'Cause I'm a little fuzzy on my space/time continuum classes..."

Alan glanced over at him and realized that for once, he was unreadable. It wasn't hope, wasn't really cynicism... perhaps somewhere in between. "We won't know till we try," he offered. "What we really need to know right now is how to get inside that ja-" He was stopped as an ape couple passed by and glared at the two astronauts. As soon as they passed he continued. "Get inside that jail. But we won't know till Gal- I mean Helius, gets done talking with the prefect.

"Yeah..." Pete shifted his weight, glancing up and down the street. "We don't even know how many of them there are. Or what kind of ship it is, or even if we're qualified to fly it. We'd better hope to God that the pilot's one of those survivors..."

Alan looked away, turning his eyes to the sky. "Whether or not we're qualified to fly it, we'd better learn fast."

Pete half-laughed at that, and smirked at Alan, "So how's your time-travel theory recall?"

"Well, I was informed that there were military personnel out here," Galen replied.

"We have... local patrols," Volar explained. "But they are hardly the experienced soldiers of your Central City."

Galen nodded. "Well, believe you me, I realize that humans are dangerous, vicious creatures. Oh, but I don't intend to put myself in harm's way."

"Of that I am glad." He was squirming again. "I would hate to be responsible for "So... as I understand it... you were out - away from Central City - sent by Zaius to investigate happenings such as the one that happened so close to my city?" Prefect Volar was clearly disturbed by this. "Does this happen often that strange humans claim to have fallen out of the sky?"

Galen paused for just a moment as he gathered his thoughts and replied wisely. "There have been reports over the last few months of strange doings in the territories surrounding Central City. I was sent to investigate." He half shrugged. "Some time ago, there were two humans near Camac who claimed to have come from the sky and your report certainly raises my interest in light of such information as I already possess about that unwelcome incident." He watched the prefect as he paced, clearly uneasy. "We must do all that is possible to keep ape-kind safe, don't you agree?"

The prefect eyed him for a long moment, and then walked around his desk to sit down in the oversized chair. Galen had a feeling he would not be there for long. So far, he had been entirely unable to remain still. "And why would Zaius send you alone to investigate such... dangerous claims? Surely this is a job for military personnel." He squirmed, but remained seated for the time being, fingers playing over each other. Goodness, he's more nervous than I am and I'm the one who's lying... "These humans are dangerous. They will attack without any provocation whatsoever..."any harm coming to you."

Galen laughed at the prospect, his thoughts racing. He needed to ask some questions of his own if he intended to get anywhere. "Tell me, how did you come upon these humans from the sky?"

The question raised Volar from his seat again, and returned him to his pacing. "Oooh... how should I know how they got here!" Galen opened his mouth to clarify the question, but wasn't given the chance. "They came in this... thing they claim fell from the sky. I don't know how it got there!"

"Have you personally tried to verify this?" Inwardly, Galen smirked at the prefect's squirming. He was so fearful of that which he didn't understand... "How can you know that these humans are not part of an elaborate hoax? That would be quiet embarrassing..."

"Ooh... I do not want to verify, I want these humans gone! Out of my city!" He was still pacing. Galen watched his movements calmly. "And as soon as Chief of Security Urko arrives, I hope he will take them away immediately."

Galen paused for just an instant. Indeed, Urko would take them away immediately once he arrived. There was no question about that. "Have you received any word about when Urko will arrive?"

The prefect shook his head. "I'm told it's about four day's journey to Central City just to notify him..." He clearly wasn't pleased with the amount of time it was going to take.

Eight days was, of course, subject to good riding conditions, and to the fact that Urko was in Central City. That was an interesting thought to consider. As they had last seen Urko, he was some ways from Central City. They would need to send a messenger to find him, and give him word. It may give them a few extra hours, if not days.

"I am interested, for the sake of the council of course, about these humans. Would it be permissible to see them?" Galen realized that he was treading on thin ice, but with the prefect up in arms and not thinking rationally, he hoped that he could get away with it.

But Volar shook his head. "No no no, absolutely not. When Urko arrives, you and he can do whatever you wish with those humans. But as long as they are my responsibility, I am taking no risks. They are far too dangerous to be approached..."

"I, uh... suppose you have someone guarding them in the jail then?" Galen played with the material on his shirt.

The Prefect nodded, still pacing. "Yes, yes, of course. I have every available officer stationed." The fear in his eyes was obvious. "You do not know these humans..."

Galen looked up. "If I may inquire, the messenger didn't say... How many humans were found? I'd like to have all this information so that my report back to Councilor Zaius may be complete."

The prefect eyed him carefully, not certain whether or not he trusted this ape. "There were five of them in all. Two were found dead within the... what did they call it? Ship."

"Ship!" Helius was absolutely dumbfounded. "How could it be a ship? It did not come from the water." He laughed. "These must be very strange humans indeed..."

"Indeed," Volar mumbled under his breath, "And dangerous. The sooner Chief Urko arrives, the better."

Galen realized he was not going to get any further with this conversation. Perhaps he could try again in the morning. "Well..." He stood, and nodded politely to the prefect. "I thank you for your hospitality. But I have had a long day of travel, especially since the loss of my horse, and I must find someplace to stay the night."

Volar looked to him and sighed again, but relaxed noticeably at the possibility of a change in topic. "I can arrange a place for you to stay," he offered, as any polite and well-mannered ape would. "But I'm afraid that your two humans will prohibit you from staying too long. I do not wish to have them in my city for any longer than necessary..." He was friendly, but firm. Galen had expected as much.

"That is understandable."

"There is an area a short ways to the east that used to be a horse pen," the prefect informed. "It has a canopy shelter. They may stay there. I will have a room made up for yourself."

Galen nodded again, more completely this time. "I thank you for your hospitality. I shall take my humans away immediately so that you will not be bothered by them."