Early the next day, Maurice was ambling slowly by on the forest floor while the apes from the colony had gone back help the humans. As he lumbered on, deep in thought, pondering on the events that had occurred yesterday, Maurice couldn't help but wonder about the well beings of his friends and their time with the humans. Koba had disappeared that very morning, running off in a angry huff. The humans had threatened Blue Eyes with a gun to which Caesar had quickly shut down. Cornelia had gotten very ill with no signs of recovering from it and was helped by the human female, hopefully. Then there was the fight with Koba which Maurice was not happy about but understood well, that the situation needed to be dealt with. Again Maurice himself didn't understand why Koba would not just let go of his past grudges. Maybe the bonobo was indeed twisted too much during his time with the humans but he should at least allow his fellow apes to help him cope with it, for it is not healthy to keep such feelings inside oneself all the time Maurice pondered.

Occupied with his thoughts, Maurice perked up when he heard a small hoot and let his gaze wander up towards the trees above. There up in the canopy, Maurice was greeted by a orangutan, not much younger than both Blue Eyes and Ash, who slowly climbed down towards him.

"Good morning teacher Maurice," the young orangutan signed respectfully once his feet touched the ground and was able to use his hands.

"Good morning Ray, how are you and your father today?" Maurice greeted in kind.

"Father is doing well. He is out with the other apes at the machine by the water, waiting for us to get the humans," Ray signed back with a wide grin on his face to which Maurice nodded back slowly.

With that the two orangutans continued their talk as they traversed the forest floor slowly and quietly. As soon as they rounded one giant particular tree Maurice had stopped and stared, prompting Ray to do the same. Sitting by the edge of one of the open tents was the human boy, whose face lit up at the sight of them. Cautiously the human teen stood up and walked on over to the two and stopped right in front of them with something held in his hands.

"I… I think you were watching me read this yesterday… at the dam. Do you want to read it? O-oh, and your friend there too," the boy said aloud.

Maurice merely tilted his head while Ray stared at the boy with wonder in his eyes as he's never been this close one of the humans before. Looking from one to the other the human boy then gave Maurice the comic book and took a seat right next to him, whilst Ray merely leaned over from the bigger orangutan's side to peer at the object that had words and pictures in them.

…

Hearing Alexander speaking aloud, Malcolm slowly rose up from his sleeping bag and peered outside, surprised at what he saw in front of him.

"Hey Ellie, wake up!" Malcolm said softly as he grabbed onto Ellie's shoulder and shook her lightly.

"What is it?" Ellie asked with a groan to which Malcolm tilted his head out of the tent.

Following his gaze, Ellie was awed by the scene that was in front of her. Sitting there just a few feet away was Alexander and a couple of orangutans. The young boy seemed to be pointing to a page in his comic book held by the bigger ape and was reading aloud to them. While the smaller ape peered in from the side, copying Alexander's hand gestures to signifying that they were hanging off of something as portrayed within the comic.

"Now ain't that a peculiar sight?" Malcolm spoke quietly, still watching Alexander and the two orangutans.

"Nothing peculiar about it at all, just looks like a fifteen year old boy teaching two orangutans how to read a comic book, to me," Ellie responded as she leaned her back into Malcolm, joining him in a small bout of laughter as they continued to watch the beautiful scene unfolding in front of them.

Soon enough Malcolm emerged from the opposite end of the tent and stood a little bit away from Alexander and the orangutans. Hearing horse hooves approaching Malcolm turned around and saw Caesar slowly approaching him. With a smile, Malcolm approached the chimpanzee leader.

"We should be done today, thanks to you and your people," Malcolm thanked the chimpanzee whom nodded at him before looking away.

Malcolm watched as Caesar seemed to be keeping his eyes upon his apes as they helped the other humans gathered things that were needed for today's job.

"I… just wanted to say…" Malcolm spoke up again, gaining Caesar's attention. "That once we get back. I'm going to let everyone there know of what you and your people did to help us," he continued, looking into Caesar's eyes, meaning every word of it.

"Trust," Caesar said simply, frowning slightly as a thought of telling Koba the exact same thing a while ago crossed his mind before he quickly pushed it aside, face going stoic once more.

At Caesar's word, Malcolm nodded and couldn't help but smile up at the ape leader who continued to looked down at him up on the horse with a stern expression. Maybe, just possibly things could work out between them, after all this is over and both apes and humans alike could live in harmony. Letting his gaze go back to Alexander and the two orangutans a curious thought suddenly came to mind and he turned back to look up at Caesar.

"Caesar, If you don't mind me asking… what are their names?" Malcolm asked as he indicated with a head nod towards the two orangutans, with Caesar's gaze following in the direction.

"Maurice. Good friend and very smart," Caesar answered, indicating to the larger orangutan before nodding once at the smaller one, "Ray. Bright student and good ape," he told Malcolm.

"And what about the two that saved us from the tunnels the other day? The uh…" Malcolm started, remembering the nearly hairless chimpanzee whom was accompanied by a younger one as well.

Looking back up at Caesar, Malcolm then crossed his middle and index finger into the American alphabet sign for "R" and tapping it over his chest, right over his heart.

"The big one did this," Malcolm explained, still doing the gesture, to which Caesar couldn't help but let out a small grunt, a smile upon his lips before looking away.

"That is Rocket. Very strong ape warrior and also good friend. Younger one is his son, Ash," Caesar informed Malcolm.

"Ah… Oh… And what about your son? What is his name?" Malcolm continued.

"Blue Eyes." Caesar said simply in a certain proud fatherly tone to which it did not go unnoticed by Malcolm.

"And the smaller one? And your… Wife? Lady…? Partner?" Malcolm inquired not sure on how to word it.

"Baby's name is Cornelius. His mother, Cornelia," Caesar answered, his voice laced with nothing but fondness and love when he spoke of their names.

Don't really talk a lot huh? Malcolm thought to himself about Caesar but when he had asked about the chimpanzee's family he could see the warmth, pride, love and joy in the ape leader's eyes hiding underneath that stern front that he exhibits all the time. He really does love his family and apes… Malcolm continued to think to himself before another question hit him.

"Oh? And what about… The one with the scars and bad eye? Sorry there's nothing else I can describe him as," Malcolm asked one last time, noticing Caesar's features grim before the ape slowly turned his head back around to face him from the top of his horse.

"That one Koba. You and other humans stay away from him. He not friend to humans," Caesar warned Malcolm.

Caesar then turned his gaze slowly away from the human again as he thought about the bonobo. He had seen Koba earlier that morning, sitting by himself far off to the side of the colony, slowly sharpening his spear in silence. The two had made brief eye contact, his searching while Koba's was indifferent. Then as if it had never happened, Koba blinked and then went back to sharpening his spear while Caesar breathed out a sigh before making his way on over towards the horses. He'll need to go an reconcile with the bonobo later, for now he and the other apes needed to help the humans with getting power back to their city.

"Yeah, you don't have to tell me twice," Malcolm agreed, already seeing first hand the scarred ape's opinions about them.

Malcolm had wanted to inquired more details about the scarred ape but stopped himself, noticing Caesar was oddly quiet for the moment, as if something was troubling him. Hoping to change the mood, Malcolm suddenly spoke up to the ape leader, informing Caesar of his friends and family. Since Caesar had been so openly willing to inform him of his people, Malcolm that it was only fair that he returned and told the ape about his own. Thankfully by telling Caesar about Alexander, Ellie, Foster, Kempt and unfortunately Carver, it seemed to have distracted the chimpanzee from his troubling thoughts. Maybe they could have a chance after all, Malcolm thought to himself happily while still explaining to Caesar who did what and what their roles were. Maybe with just this, they can have peace.

…

As soon as most of the apes had left along with Caesar and the others, Koba was soon approached by Pope. Glancing up from making his spear the two scarred apes stared at each other.

"You ready to go?" Pope asked.

Setting his spear aside, Koba closed his eyes for a moment before rising to his feet.

"Yes," he breathed.

"Then we go now," Pope gestured.

…

It had taken them a while but Koba, Pope, Stone and Grey made their way back to the weapons storage house within the human city. Landing quickly upon a rooftop Pope peered down at the humans that still scuttled around before eyeing the their targeted building just a few jumps away.

"You can do this?" Pope asked turning to face Koba, whom grunted in response and nodded once. "Then Stone, Grey and I will stay behind before going in while you take care of the humans," Pope finished looking at the other two chimpanzees for confirmation to which they too nodded once in response.

With his plans about exposing the humans to apes set in motion, Pope turned back and eyed the weapon warehouse.

…

Terry and McVeigh had spent the morning testing the warehouse's storage of guns upon an old vehicle to test what was still working and what did not. By this time the two friends had agreed that it was just about lunchtime and set their guns down beside them. McVeigh himself had taken out a piece of small smoked meat and cured cheese to munch on while Terry had suddenly produced a bottle of whiskey, smiling all the while.

"What are you doing?" McVeigh asked incredulously.

"What? I'd thought that you know. It's been a while and maybe we can have ourselves a drink," Terry answered, popping the cork that held the liquid inside.

McVeigh thought it over for a moment and decided, heck why not? It had been months since they've last had a drink together. Alcohol was hard to come by these days but when they've found a bottle or two they would try their hardest to preserve it and drink it only on the most special of occasions and today felt like one of those special days. Taking the bottle, McVeigh poured himself a small cup whilst Terry did the same before tapping the rim of their cups together and took a nice drink from it.

The two friends spent some time eating at their food, drinking some more, followed by the complaints that they weren't even done going through have the storage yet. However the two did know that they've checked enough working guns to give every man, woman and child a firearm within the colony, so there's that at least. While enjoying the others person's company both McVeigh and Terry stiffened up when they saw a familiar figure approaching them.

"Is that the…" McVeigh started, squinting his eyes a little at the figure.

"Holy shit! It's that one monkey!" Terry whispered.

The ape was now standing on two legs and was enthusiastically approaching the two humans, a smile upon his face, hooting and waiving his hand at them as if they were long lost friends.

"Hey! What they hell's wrong with you! I thought we told you to go home!" Terry yelled at the ape.

"No! No! Go!" McVeigh chastised the approaching ape while pointing a finger at him.

Terry glanced at his friend for a moment before he rolled his eyes and took the gun next to him and pointed it at the ape, who stopped and raised his arms up in air.

"Ah ha! You understood that didn't ya?" Terry mused while McVeigh couldn't help but chuckle.

The scarred ape then did a series of rolls towards the two causing them to back up slightly into the sandbags that they were laying on.

"Whoa whoa whoa, hey!" Terry said aloud, still pointing the gun at the ape whom stood back up and began to clap his hands while pant laughing at them.

Seeing the little act the two couldn't help but laugh a little. As scary as the ape that stood before them looked they couldn't help but feel a little amused by the primate's little show. The scarred bonobo then suddenly took a seat besides McVeigh and began pant laughing while relaxing into the sandbags.

"Ha, I think he likes you," Terry mused.

"Shut up!" McVeigh chuckled back to Terry before feeling a light grip upon his knee. "Whoa, okay, okay alright," he continued before taking another drink from the bottle to ease himself.

The scarred ape then noticed McVeigh drinking and quickly pointed at his cup and then towards his mouth.

"Ah… you want a drink fugly?" Terry laughed as he saw the gesture. "Hey, go on. Give him some," to which McVeigh gave him a I don't know if this is a good idea glance. "Come on. Give him some, man. See what happens," Terry finished excitedly.

"Alright," McVeigh said aloud, shaking his head a little.

Popping out the cork, McVeigh was about to pour some more into his cup and hand it off to the ape when the bonobo instead reached out and took the whole bottle from him.

"Whoa, hey!"

The two watched as the scarred bonobo took a couple of whiff form the bottle, glanced at them for a moment, smiled and then tipped the bottle into his mouth.

"Whoa, whoa whoa, hey!" Terry started.

"That's not water!" McVeigh tried to warn but it was already too late.

The moment the ape took a few gulps he suddenly moved the bottle away from his face and sprayed the two humans with the alcohol, causing Terry to laugh aloud while McVeigh was unamused as he got the brunt of the spray.

"Shit!" McVeigh, complained as he wiped at his face while Terry couldn't contain himself leaning his back in hard laughter.

The two watched as the ape was making a gagging noise and coughed a few times before he glanced back at them and joined in the laughter, reaching on over to pat them on the knees and shoulders. During this merry time the scarred ape suddenly stood up, taking a hold of McVeigh's gun that he was testing and swung it around like it was a play thing, shocking the two humans.

"Whoa whoa whoa, okay. Alright," McVeigh said startlingly, reaching his hand out to the ape, while Terry quickly pointed his gun at the animal.

The two were now breathing heavily, knowing how dangerous it would be if the ape had accidentally pressed the trigger. McVeigh then tried to coax the ape to giving him back the weapon, like one would as a child to which the bonobo was still happily swinging the gun around like it were some game.

"Okay buddy, easy now," McVeigh said slowly while Terry chuckled anxiously.

Just when McVeigh thought he was getting through to the still laughing ape the creature suddenly swung the gun upwards and pulled the trigger to the weapon, instantly killing Terry on the spot. With a gasp, McVeigh looked down at his now deceased friend before turning back towards the ape with wide eyes. Instead of the jolly scarred ape that was being friendly with them earlier, McVeigh now saw what was really in front of him. The scarred bonobo had the most hate filled eyes, mouth open slightly, baring his long fangs. Just then McVeigh noticed the edge of the ape's mouth slowly rose up as if he were smiling at him. Then it hit him and it all making sense now. The ape wasn't being friendly with them at all, he had wanted something and had tricked both he and Terry. Tricked by an ape whom they thought was nothing more than a stupid monkey.

Koba watched with amusement as the human was looking at him with great fear.

That's right human, be afraid of me.

Before the human can utter a word or cry for help, Koba pulled the trigger for the gun, firing several bullets into the man, silencing him forever.

Quietly both Grey and Stone approached Koba from the side and looked down at the two humans whom were now still, unmoving. Pope joined them and stared at Koba's handiwork before turning towards the scarred bonobo and patted his shoulder several times.

"Good work Koba. Now we take weapons to show apes. Show them that humans want war. Show them that Caesar has been lied to and trust humans too much. Make him lose the trust of apes," Pope gestured.

The scarred chimpanzee then turned to both Stone and Grey and ordered them to pick up several of the weapons to showcase their findings. The two glanced at Koba to which the bonobo slowly nodded at them to do as Pope says. Satisfied, Pope retrieved the weapon that was in Koba's hand and looked down at it before glancing up at the bonobo once more.

"Now. We show apes. Who should be leader instead," Pope said aloud to Koba whom merely stared back at him before the bonobo slowly let his eyes fall back down to the weapon in his hands.

Introducing Ray from WFTPOTA: Revelations book.

Fun fact. Rocket's name is exactly signed as described by Malcolm in this chapter from what I could gather on multiple sources.

Things are starting to roll here. Thanks for reading!