The next morning came much too early as far as Koba was concerned as his eyelids fluttered open weakly with the sounds of feet stomping the ground around him. Now fully awake, Koba looked at either side of himself and couldn't help but groan inwardly. As before, the soldiers all paraded in formation as they mustered themselves before the Colonel's tower, even as the caged apes dreaded the day to come. Luckily, Koba himself was turned away from the tower as the soldiers reverently looked up at it. Most likely waiting for their precious leader to show himself in the balcony like before. Koba could care less though as he adjusted his limbs and could feel the cold sting in them.

Well, at least his hadn't lost his arms and legs to the cold thankfully.

Just as before the apes all experienced another disturbing ritual from the humans. All yelling incoherently in unison with words that Koba cared not for. Declaring something about themselves the Beginning and the End.

Crazy and out of their minds. That was what Koba thought of them.

Before long whistles shrieked into the air as the troops dismissed from the rally and set them to work forcing the chained apes out of the pens and into the yard. Where the apes dragged their feet and knuckles, in no hurry to resume their labors. The Colonel moved through the chaotic operation, accompanied by Preacher, Red and a few other turncoats, until they had reached Koba.

The Colonel looked down at the noxious bonobo who stared back coldly. The two stared at each other for a bit before the man drew his sidearm and then signaled at Red and the other turncoat apes with him. The gorilla and other chimps dutifully undid the bonds that held down Koba, whilst he simply watched them.

"Try anything..." the Colonel spoke up, catching Koba's attention. "...and I'll kill him. You understand?"

Koba's eyes darted to Caesar, whom was watching from his cage, before he slowly glared back up at the Colonel once more, who was still looking down at him, hiding behind those dark glasses. Koba did not answer, instead he gave the Colonel a hard look as his limbs were freed and he stood up slowly, tottering upon shaky legs. Koba could feel his limbs burning and protesting with pain but he kept quiet, not wanting to give the man the satisfaction to see him looking weak. Once his neck was finely secured with a collar, they yanked on Koba's chains, pulling him toward where Caesar was. Koba grunted as pins and needles stabbed at his arms and legs but other than that, that was all they were going to get from him.

When they had reached Caesar's cage, they all stared at the ape leader sitting in his cell for a moment before the Colonel slowly turned his head to look at Preacher. Rounding to look back at Caesar, the Colonel couldn't help but scoff aloud.

"Still alive," the man said as Preacher dutifully opened Caesar's cage door.

The two apes watched as the Colonel flicked his pistol at the ape leader, telling him to come out. Caesar shot the Colonel an angry look before he rose to his feet. Caesar had faltered for a moment and leaned onto the wall of his cage for support. It took every bit of energy from Koba to not break away from the others and help Caesar. However, as much as he had wanted to do that, he knew that Caesar wouldn't allow such help. So instead, Koba watched on in silence as Caesar emerged from his own secluded pen to stare the Colonel down.

The Colonel himself regarded the ape leader coldly as Red walked on over to begin chaining up Caesar.

"Send him to the quarry," the Colonel said. "Alone."

At this Caesar narrowed his eyes at the Colonel but uttered no words to him.

"And… this one?" Preacher asked, indicating Koba.

"He'll join the others," the Colonel explained without sparing Preacher or Koba a glance. "He'll be on transport duty. Alone. If he falls behind… you guys know what to do" the man explained simply.

Just as Caesar and Koba were made to turn away in opposite directions the Colonel had told them to hold as he noticed something within the ape leader's cage. It was at this point, Caesar had forgotten about the rag doll that was given to him by the little girl.

Striding forward, the Colonel reached into the cage and plucked the discarded toy from the ground. He stared at the beaten-up rag doll, visibly perplexed by it. Koba side glanced the Colonel, nervous about the doll's discovery and the danger it could impose to the girl, Maurice and Bad Ape, not to mention their plans of escaping this dreaded place. Turning to look at Caesar, Koba could seen the chimpanzee's face turn away, avoiding eye contact as the Colonel reemerged from the pen.

Koba could see the Colonel stare off into the distance for a moment before looking back down at the doll in his hands. The man then turned to look at Caesar.

"What is this?" the Colonel asked.

Koba looked from the man and then to Caesar, only seeing the other ape's backside, wondering what his friend was conveying. Seeing that the Colonel was not going to get an answer from the ape leader, he then turned his attention to Preacher, who was standing next to him.

"How did this get in here?"

Turning his attention to the young soldier beside him, Koba could see the blood drained from Preacher's face. The young man gulped and fidgeted nervously, looking utterly miserable. Confusion and sweat beaded upon the young man's face and Koba merely maintained a poker face as he watched the human beside him squirm.

Koba did not feel a grain of sympathy for him.

"I don't know, sir," Preacher's voice quavered as he responded.

The Colonel was quiet for a moment before he spoke up again.

"Get them to work," he said simply.

With that order in place, both Caesar and Koba were shoved by the ape turncoats, toward their respective destinations to where they were going to be made to work. As he followed quietly, Koba couldn't help but glance back over his shoulder, seeing the Colonel stare at Caesar as he walked away, the doll in his hands. Then to his surprise, Koba saw Caesar glancing backwards too. First, to look at the Colonel and then he quickly met his gaze. Koba swore he saw a ghost of a smirk upon Caesar's lips before the chimp turned back around.

As Koba too slowly faced forward once more. Walking along with the others, he couldn't help as the corners of his mouth turned upward into a smile as well.

…

"What!? We are in danger then!" Andy gestured angrily as he met Maurice's eyes.

"I understand that but it is up to us now. We must do what we can to save them," Maurice explained slowly.

Grinding his teeth together, Andy turned around, huffing and puffing before knuckle-walking back and forth in front of the orangutan. The distressed chimpanzee was then stopped in his tracks as a hand had reached out and placed itself upon Andy's shoulder.

"Stay calm," Grey ordered, meeting Andy in the eyes before walking up to Maurice. "What do we do, Maurice? What is the plan then?" Grey asked.

"Rocket and I have found a way to have everyone escape from the camp. It involves digging right under where they are all locked up in their pens," Maurice explained. "Now, we just need to figure out where they specifically are, under the tunnel ways. It was agreed that we needed to find a way to get inside and then inform the other that was still outside and dig an escape for the others."

"And how would we do that?" Andy asked curiously, unconvinced

"That is up to Rocket and the others now. We have to wait for them to give us the message," Maurice answered.

Andy leaned his backside onto the wall of the tunnel for support and a skeptical look cross his features.

"And this will work?" Andy questioned once more.

"Even so, we must make it work," Grey stepped in. "We have to."

There was a grunt and all heads turned to look down at another chimpanzee, whom was sitting down on the ground with his back leaning against the walls-Spear.

"I trust in this plan," Spear signed with shaky fingers. "It has to work. Or there is nothing else," he huffed weakly.

Maurice lumbered on over and knelt beside Spear, reaching out and placing a hand upon the younger chimp's head affectionately.

"Yes, it will work," Maurice assured Spear. "Eat the rest of that rabbit that Grey hunted for both you and Andy. We will need both of your strengths when the time comes."

Spear nodded and brought up the raw meat to his lips and started to consume it, hungrily but slowly. Getting back up to his legs, Maurice rounded himself to look at Andy, who closed his eyes tightly and took in a deep breath before opening them back up again.

"It's just… I'm afraid that if this does not go as planned. Then we are lost," Andy signed fearfully, his face furrowing into that of worry.

"Like Grey had said," Maurice signed. "We will make it work. Because we must."

"But you do not know what happened to us while you were off with Caesar and the others!" Andy signed back forcefully, his eyes welling up. "They killed our friends in front of us, Maurice! They threatened our families. Tortured us. Made us work until we could no longer move and then they killed those who were not useful to them anymore or fought back," it was at this point that Andy couldn't hold himself anymore as a few tears escaped his eyes. "They still have my dear Judy and my Lake up there. I am so scared for them," he finished.

Seeing how fearful Andy was about the plan and considering that it may fail, caused Maurice's own heart to ache for the other ape. He could never imagine what they had all gone through, nor did he want to know such atrocities. However, he felt for his friend and did not know what to do to make the situation better for Andy.

"I cannot say that I understand what you went through, my dear friend," Maurice signed. "But I need you to trust me. Trust in Rocket and the others. As we will need each other in order to get out of here alive."

Andy frowned and couldn't help himself as he glared at the ground in front of him. After a brief quiet, he finally nodded quietly and simply stood there and said nothing more. Grey on the other hand walked up to the other chimpanzee and placed a reassuring hand upon the other ape's shoulder before turning to look back at Maurice.

"We… we have been through much," Grey tried to explain. "It has been difficult. For everyone."

Maurice simply nodded quietly in return, thinking of no ill intention from Andy at all. He knew that this was very hard on them. Unlike he himself, Andy and Grey still had families that were locked up within the grounds were evil man tread. However, as much as they all wanted to go and free their friends and families, they couldn't simply rush on in without a plan. This had to be done quietly and delicately.

There were sounds from above, causing a few powdered snow to fall down into the pit where they were all in. Looking upwards, the apes all saw a chimp's head pop into view.

"Hey! Come, come friends! Other friends out now!" Bad Ape announced.

"I'll go and see," Maurice turned back to look at both Grey and Andy.

With a deep breath, Maurice then started to ascend up the steps to where the others were. Andy had leaned back onto the wall for support as he wiped furiously at his eyes, clearing them of any moisture. During the whole conversation, Spear had quietly ate away and had decided to not voice his opinion on the matter while Grey stood there and simply waited for Maurice to return.

…

Panting to himself, high above the prison yard, on a dangerously narrow perch, Caesar strained to quarry heavy rocks from the frigid cliffs. The granite ledge had been roughly hacked out of the side of the cliff, above the camp grounds. Normally apes in general did not perspire as profusely as humans did, but now sweat dripped into his eyes, stinging them. Slippery palms made it hard to keep a tight grip on the handle of his pick as he chipped away at the frozen stone face of the canyon, wrestling more building materials from the stubborn granite. A savage part of his soul wished that he were swinging the pick right at the Colonel's skull instead. Only the armed guards keeping watch on him from below prevented him from carrying out his bloodthirsty fantasy that played out within his mind.

Caesar toiled beneath a bleak winter sky. The day had barely begun for him and yet he was already tired and thirsty. If the girl had not smuggled him a modicum of food and water last night, there was no way that he could have managed this arduous chore of his, on top of everything that he had already endured. Caesar was still quite unsure why the Colonel had simply not executed him and Koba the way he'd casually killed Percy. Was he afraid that like him, he would turn both of the apes into martyrs? Or did he simply think that it sent a better message to the other apes to show that even Caesar and Koba had been reduced to toiling for the humans.

If the Colonel thinks that by breaking him would break the will of the apes, he was wrong.

With a huff, Caesar had paused momentarily to peer furtively at the yard below, where the impatient human overseers were still trying to get the wary, slow-moving apes over to the wall. Scanning the crowded, hectic scene, Caesar spotted Rocket among a chain gang, consisting of him, Ash and Winter, that was just now being dragged out of the pens. That the hairless chimp had been beaten badly only hours ago did not exempt him from being put to work along with the other apes, it seemed.

Just as it fit their plans of escape.

Rocket, and many of the other apes surreptitiously made eye contact with Caesar, confirming that they were all ready to play their part. Confident that Rocket and the others would get the job done, Caesar next sought out Tinker, Judy, Lake and Maple. They and many of the other females had paused not far from the children's pens to pick up their tools and ropes for the day. They all lingered a bit longer by the children before finally making their way towards the wall as the human came at them with prods and whips.

Then there was Koba, the lone bonobo who had to haul slabs of stone and wood by himself. The scarred bonobo was given a wheelbarrow to work with and he strained against his chains as they provided him with limited movement. But Koba strode onward and would do his best to draw the attention of the human soldiers and turncoats away from the others.

Caesar watched as Rocket, Ash and Winter observed carefully and covertly as the bulkier chimpanzee trudged ploddingly toward the wall, his downcast eyes fixed on his feet, counting every step as his group approached an obsolete train signal switch posted by the old railway track running through the yard. The very same switch that Rocket had informed them before, marking the location of the underground tunnel Rocket himself had dug through.

Rocket, Ash and Winter passed the switch before inconspicuously signing upward in Caesar's direction.

Thirty-seven.

To anyone not trained with their eyes, one would have thought that Rocket was merely waving at a fellow ape in the distance. But of course, that was so much more. With Koba drawing most of the soldiers and turncoats' attention away as he accidentally dropped his wheelbarrow, it had given Rocket and the others the chance to relay their message.

Caesar nodded back at Rocket and his group before turning a worry at Koba. The scarred bonobo seemed to be doing quite a good job as Koba merely scowled at the other soldiers who yelled at him, earning him a few good whips from the turncoats. Shifting his gaze toward Tinker and her group during the distraction, they had already reached the train light switch. Lake had quickly then turned to look up at Caesar as well.

Fifty-five.

He acknowledged the message with a nod, adding it to the information that he had just received from Rocket. Turning his eyes back to the commotion, he had let out a relieved breath as Koba was shoved away toward the broken pieces of stones and began to load up his wheelbarrow.

Glad that no one got hurt too severely, Caesar then peered across the wall at a distant outcropping beyond the camp, where Rocket had told him that the others would be hiding and waiting. The monumental rock formation squatted like an island on the vast frozen waste past the canyon. Squinting his eyes, he then could make out what looked like a large shaggy form lurking behind the boulders…

…

Maurice spotted Caesar upon the ledge. He had been monitoring the camp for hours, after Bad Ape had told him that the humans were letting the other apes out of the pens to work. Ever since Rocket had bravely walked right into the humans' base to distract the soldiers and, hopefully, make contact with Caesar and the others. The plan all along had been for Rocket to find some way to signal Maurice from inside the camp, perhaps even from the wall or quarries. It was discussed between the both of them as they had made that breakthrough within the tunnel, but were not quite sure on how to proceed. Noticing Caesar, the orangutan hoped that Rocket had been able to share their plan with their leader at some point during the night, so that their captured friend knew what to do.

Maurice had let out a happy breath when it looked like Caesar had spotted him and paused long enough to sign from across the distance between them:

Thirty-Seven steps to the adult cage… fifty-five to the children.

With that, Caesar had quickly turned back around and began chipping away at the stone wall again as to not draw suspicion. Lowering the binoculars within his hands, Maurice grunted before he rounded himself to the child and regarded her for a moment. He looked her over before handing her the binoculars to hold onto. The child accepted them before looking back up at the shaggy ape.

Maurice pointed to the child, then up at his eyes. He then indicated by pointing to his own eyes and then at the campgrounds to let the girl know that he wanted her to keep a lookout and gave her the binoculars. He hoped by giving her a job he would encourage her to stay put and out of sight, as well as danger. Understanding, the girl simply nodded and perched herself upon the stones. Maurice was quite amused by the seriousness of her expression while taking upon the task, but that was well. They really did need someone to look out for them.

Maurice then got Bad Ape's attention and led the way back down into the tunnel where the others were. Maurice had then directed them all to where he and Rocket had excavated until they had reached the train switch, using it as a landmark. Double-checking his position Maurice then pointed out two different tunnel ways.

"We have to go down each tunnel and dig our way up toward the surface," he indicated. "Clear the pathways of all debris."

The others, including Bad Ape nodded eagerly. Maurice had directed the two groups; he was going to be in charge of the right side of the tunnel with Andy, while Grey and Bad Ape head down the other. Since Grey was the one that had revitalized enough for now, he and Bad Ape were the best ones to tackle a tunnel way themselves while Maurice was going to do most of the digging on his end with Andy, whom was still recovering. Spear on the other hand was going to keep watch at the end of both tunnels, in case anything were to happen.

All knowing what their roles were, they all separated from each other and began their tasks.

Walking down the dark tunnel, Bad Ape and Grey could see that there were many things that were blocking their path. With a sigh the two had put down the light and began to move the debris to clear the tunnel way, getting it ready for the others when they were free. While working at the task, Grey couldn't help but uneasily glance over at his companion, seeing the lankier chimp enthusiastically work away as he cleared a lot of the ground work. As far as he, Andy and Spear understood, this chimpanzee was somewhat of an odd case. A hermit ape, who stuck out on his own for many years until he was found by Caesar and the others. So as Maurice had told them. Grey couldn't help but wonder how a lone ape like this newcomer could survive by himself for so long.

Noticing that brown haired chimpanzee was staring, Bad Ape rounded his gaze upon the other simian and offered a giant smile upon his lips as he continued to work.

"You friend?" Bad Ape asked.

Grey couldn't help but furrowed his brows at the lankier chimp but kept quiet as he continued his task.

"Bad Ape," Bad Ape introduced himself, stopping momentarily to place a hand over his own chest and then continuing. "Your name?"

Noticing that this other chimp was not taking things quite seriously, Grey merely frowned in response and refocused his attention upon the task in front of him. Bad Ape seemed to have noticed Grey's change of mood upon asking the question and he quietly turned his attention back to the wall as well, keeping quiet.

As Grey continued to work away, he couldn't help but glance over at Bad Ape once more and saw the melancholy Chimpanzee lugging away several pieces of sheet of metal. Seeing Bad Ape, Grey couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. It wasn't his fault that everyone was tense at the situation and Bad Ape was only trying to greet them, since he's been along for so long. Grey remembered how fearful this new chimpanzee was of "the bad place," as he kept calling it. However, the hermit ape seemed to be willing to do whatever was necessary to help Caesar and the others. So Grey shouldn't resent this new companion who was only trying to help.

"Grey."

Bad Ape perked up and turned his giant green eyes upon the brown haired chimpanzee who continued with the excavation, before stopping momentarily to regard him.

"Name. Grey," Grey spoke up.

Upon finding out what his new friend's name was, Bad Ape beamed in response at Grey. Grey on the other hand seemed to be in better spirits and simply looked up from where they stood. He then walked back towards the flashlights while counting his steps. Once finished he grabbed a couple of metal poles and made his way back on over to where Bad Ape was.

"We dig," Grey spoke up as he handed Bad Ape one of the poles.

Both chimpanzees then turned their attention upward and began digging upward towards the surface.

…

Night finally fell and all of the apes were being led back into their cages for the evening. Caesar couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen to all of the apes now, since war for the humans was just around the corner and on its way. Would the apes simply be caught in the middle of all of this?

Their only hope was to escape from here.

Feeling a harsh tug on his collar, Caesar stumbled as Red yanked on his chains. Leading him back to where he was caged up before. Once they have arrived at the cage, Preacher unlocked it, while Red kept a tight hold upon the ape king. As Cesar was pushed inside and was made to turn around, both he and Red made eye contact with one another as the gorilla began to undo his bindings.

"You know… Kerna shoot apes… when war is done," Red huffed.

It saddened Caesar greatly to hear such words coming from one of their own. He looked past Red at Preacher, who averted his eyes. Taking this as a clear confirmation that Red was telling the truth, Caesar slowly let his gaze wander back on over to Red's very own acid-green eyes.

"His war is madness," Caesar responded gravely. "It won't save him… any more than it will save you."

An irritated look overcame Red's features.

"I save myself," Red answered.

Caesar's features then took on a pitying look and he simply met Red's hard gaze.

"Is there anything left of you to save?" Caesar asked.

Red's spiteful expression gave way as he worked at Caesar's collar. A look of uncertainty as Caesar's words struck him hard. The rusted haired gorilla seemed to be struggling to come up with a dismissive reply, but couldn't find a convincing one. All he could manage was another hostile glare before roughly yanking the collar off of the ape leader before slowly walking away.

Watching Red take his leave, Caesar turned his gaze onto Preacher who kept avoiding his accusing stare. The young man then turned to leave but paused a moment to glance back at Caesar one last time. Despite everything that has happened, a slight trace of regret could be seen on the young man's face.

"You must've known this fighting would never stop," Preacher said quietly. "It was always going to come down to this. It was going to be you… or us."

Looking away from Preacher, Caesar watched as the other turncoats had thrown Koba into a cage, one empty space between them. Watching as they unlocked Koba's bindings, Caesar never really quite believed that it was just as Preacher had said. He still didn't want to believe it, knowing that things could change… if given the chance.

But… could he really say for certain that Preacher wasn't right?

Turning back to face the young soldier, wishing that matters had not come to this. Both Caesar and Preacher locked eyes for a mere moment before whistles blew into the night, calling the work crews away. With that, Preacher spared the ape king one last glance before marching off into the darkness.

Once the soldiers and turncoat apes were out of sight, Caesar turned to look at Koba who seemed a lot worse for wear. The scarred bonobo however, managed to sit up in his cage and simply looked around, thoroughly exhausted from his labors.

"You think… that Maurice and the others got the message?" Koba signed as he turned to look at Caesar.

"They must. Otherwise, all is lost," Caesar responded.

…

The girl watched as the apes were being lead down from the wall. The bad men with guns made them go back toward their cages, signalling that they were done for the evening. As she looked through her binoculars, she could see that more heavy weaponry was placed upon the top of the wall. She now realized that she could not longer sneak into the bad place anymore, even if she had wanted to.

Lowering the binoculars in her hand, the child stared silently at the distant camps, worried about the apes and what the human soldiers were going to do to them. Knowing well that they had already hurt her friends when she had snuck in before.

Wondering where her other friends were at, under the ground. The child wondered if something had happened to them. Concerned, she moved away from her spot and climbed down into the pit and went searching for them. As she traversed the tunnel, she held her arms close to her body, afraid of the looming shadows within the dark, but she braved on, hoping to see her new friends and tell them of what was going on. Eventually she came to a section of the tunnel that split off into two paths and sitting in the middle of the path.

Is an ape.

If the child could remember, this ape was one of the new ones that they had found atop of the cliff and was sleeping for a long time. The sinewy chimpanzee raised his head and his face lit up in surprise when he saw her. Looking past the girl the chimp then glanced back at her and beckoned her over. The girl quietly walked up to the other ape and looked at him curiously.

"Child?" the ape spoke up, not used to using his vocal chords.

The girl however nodded simply and then made a gesture with her hands in a big motion. The chimpanzee tilted his head in confusion at the girl but she continued to spread her arms out, hoping that the ape understood that she was looking for their big friend.

It took a brief moment but Spear finally understood what the girl was trying to sign to him. At first he was confused as to why the girl was throwing her hands out around her but then took notice that she was trying to sign big ape-Maurice.

A happy smile spread upon the girls' features as Spear pointed down the tunnel toward his left as he finally got her question. Ecstatic that he understood her the girl reached out and gave the chimpanzee a quick hug before bolting down the tunnel towards her right, leaving the ape confused as he stood there.

As she rushed down the tunnel the girl smiled as the comforting glow of light up ahead indicated that her friend was there. Drawn to the light, like moths to a flame, the girl quickened her pace toward the source.

…

Maurice and Andy were busy at pulling away at some woodwork that clogged up one of the tunnels. The two were baffled as to why it was clogged up as so when they had located it, but nonetheless they toiled at their task. The two of them knew naught how long they were down in the tunnels but soft footsteps from behind alerted the two apes of the girl's arrival. Pausing, Maurice looked back at the child and acknowledge her presence. It then dawned on him that they had perhaps left the girl alone on the surface for longer than they should have. Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Maurice rounded himself to look back at Andy.

"Go, I'll continue here," the chimpanzee signed before turning away and began to pull away at the woodwork again.

Thankful of Andy, Maurice turned back around to face the girl and searched her face before pointing to the ceiling.

"Apes going back to the cage?" He asked.

Despite the child knowing very little sign language, she seemed to have understood him and nodded in response. Maurice couldn't help but smile warmly at the girl, pleased that she had apparently understood him.

"You are very brave," he signed to the child.

"Brave?" the girl mimicked.

"Brave," Maurice continued.

"Brave!" the girl copied once more, a smile enveloping her features in glee.

However, after a brief moment, the girl's smile dimmed as a new thought seemed to occur to her, dampening her spirits. She raised her hands in inquiry.

"Ape?" The girl indicated at herself.

Maurice was not sure what she was asking as he tilted his head at her, giving her a puzzled look.

"Me?" the girl signed again. "Ape?"

At this, Maurice now understood as to what the girl was asking of him. She was mute of course, but definitely not blind. She had noticed that she looked more like a human than and ape, despite her present company. He couldn't blame her for being confused, although he was uncertain how to respond to her inquiry. There was no easy answer here, or at least not one that wouldn't leave her more conflicted about her own identity than before. Humans were the enemy to the child and the apes were her protectors and friends. So, what was he to tell her?

That was when he saw the glint within the pocket of the parka the girl was wearing and a thought came to mind.

"You are…"

Maurice then leaned forward and gently plucked the chrome car emblem that was gifted to the girl from Bad Ape. He showed the girl the shiny trinket, with its gleaming letters spelling out a name.

"Nova," Maurice said aloud, pointing a finger at the girl."Nova."

When Maurice announced the girl's new name, a pure smile of happiness broke out across her face. As the new name was given to her, the girl now knew who and what she was.

She was Nova.

As the girl silently thought about her new name and position with the apes, Andy had came up from behind and looked both Maurice and Nova over.

"You named her?" he asked.

"Yes, I did," Maurice responded.

As Andy continued to watch both the human girl and Maurice, he could see the fatherly look upon the older ape's features. He knew naught and who this girl was to Maurice and the others but apparently it was enough for the older ape to have some sort of parental feelings for the child.

All of a sudden an urgent grunt intruded on the moment and all head turned toward the entrance of the tunnel to see Bad Ape appearing at the mouth, looking worked up. For a moment they had all thought that something had gone wrong, but then realized that the lanky chimpanzee seemed more excited than alarmed.

"Come! Come see!" Bad Ape said eagerly as he waived his flashlight around. "Come see! New friend Grey and I- Come! Come see!"

Bad Ape didn't even finish what he was saying before he disappeared for a moment and then reappeared gesturing for them all to follow. Curious as to why Bad Ape was so worked up, the other followed him. In their haste, they had failed to notice a trickle of water seeping through the blocked tunnel that they were digging through.

A slightly shorter chapter for you all this time. Apologies for the inactivity, holiday and personal stuff took me a while. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy this latest chapter.

Andy, Grey and Spear are back in the game, sort of... but they're going to be helping the others this time around to get the apes out of the compound.