Hello all my readers! I am so sorry for the late update. As you may all know, it has been quite chaotic as of late. I am doing well and am still continuing this story. As I have stated before, I intend to finish this fic and am updating whenever I am able to. Well, anyways, here is the next chapter and I do hope you all enjoy it. Happy Readings!

Cold, dark and empty. Those were the things that Caesar felt when his consciousness was slowly becoming aware. Taking in a breath, as if it were his first time breathing, Caesar exhaled and let his gaze wander around himself.

There were no vast human cities that towered toward the clear blue skies, with their buildings made of stone and glass. Nor were there any great trees that extended high above as well, filtering in rays of sunlight through their branches, like his home within the Redwoods. There was no gentle breeze of the winds that cradled the ocean waves in the far off distance. The strange place that Caesar found himself in, it is an utter and complete silent void that seemed to stretch for miles on end.

No shadows. No figures. No sound. Just emptiness… with him in it.

Where am I?

That was the question that Caesar asked himself as he stood there in the middle of the abyss. For a reason or another, and try as he might, Caesar couldn't quite remember. He did not know when he had gotten here, nor did he know how long it had been. But Ceaser felt as if he had been there for quite a while, with the passage of time flowing around him, leaving him in its passing. Like the winds and rivers that carved out the great valleys and canyons upon the earth's surface.

Was I supposed to be somewhere?

Reaching down Caesar placed a hand onto his side, right over where his ribs and lungs were on the right side of his body. The skin underneath were unmarred and clean. But deep down, Caesar knew that something was wrong, but could not pinpoint what exactly that was.

All of a sudden brief flashes of fire and smoke appeared before Caesar's vision, coupled with the sounds of explosions and screams as well.

Gasping, Caesar removed his hand from his side and took a quick step back. Glancing around himself, Caesar tried to make out what he had just seen. Those images and terrible sounds, he knew that he'd seen and heard them before.

But from where?

While moving about, Caesar had then felt something that seemed like it was stuck to his right arm. Curious, he had glanced down and noticed that there was indeed something that was attached to him. It was long and thin-like a string-and not only was it just attached to him, it was embedded deep into his arm. Gently at first, Caesar had tried to pull the cord out but found that it would not budge, no matter how hard he pulled. Giving up on the idea that he would be able to pull the object out from him, Caesar had then decided to see where the other end was connected to. Following the piece of fiber with his eyes, Caesar noticed that the other end of this string seemingly disappeared off into the darkness beyond. He found it curious that he had never noticed this strange thing before as he looked back down at the red strand that was inside his arm and then back up to where it led off into the distance.

While he stood there, Caesar contemplated if he should follow the object further, or stay put where he was. Looking around himself and like before, he saw nothing but utter darkness that stretched for miles on end. Since there was nothing else left for him here, Caesar decided that it was probably best to follow this red string that was connected to him. Hoping that it would lead him to somewhere beyond this vast empty space.

As Caesar continued to traverse through the darkness with nothing but the dull red glow of the strand to light his way, he felt odd the further he followed it. With every step he took, it was as if his own existence had started and ended over and over again. Beginning the cycle of life and with it, death that had come just as quickly. He wasn't sure why he felt that way, but only because it just was.

With fatigue settling in, Caesar found that limbs were getting harder and harder to move, the further he travelled. As he stared at the piece of rope that led the way, it felt as if it goes on and on, for miles on end. But there was a voice at the back of his mind that urged him on and to keep moving forward. To where exactly, Caesar did not know, but he felt that whatever was at the end of this red string would answer his questions.

A sudden flash of familiar faces stared back at Caesar, all smiling at him. Then they all disappeared.

As soon as the images had vanished, Caesar had stopped in his tracks. Reaching upwards and placing a hand over his chest, Caesar couldn't help but scrunch up his features as he felt a weight within him. Something so heavy and vile, as if it was pulling him downward, to sink below within this eternal void.

This feeling within his chest, it felt as if he had done something wrong. Did something to hurt someone else and many others. But he couldn't pinpoint what it was exactly.

If only he could just remember.

While standing there, Caesar had suddenly recoiled when the heavy weight within his chest grew a hundred fold, forcing him down onto his hands and knees. He tried to get up but found that it was very difficult to do so, as if there were invisible chains that wrapped around his neck, arms and legs.

What was happening to him? Why did this occur all of a sudden?

That is when he heard it. The voices that boomed all around him, shaking him to his very core.

"Grant and Lee…"

"You're him."

"Wellington and Napoleon…"

"Is that a chimpanzee?"

"Custer and Sitting Bull…"

"Stupid monkey."

"Have you finally come to save your apes?"

"Move it, Kong!"

"Sometimes the new kid on the block gets picked on."

"He said that you were remarkable. More than just an animal…"

"My God, look at your eyes… they're almost human."

"No. You're not a pet."

"We are the beginning!"

"You're much stronger than we are. You're smart as hell. No matter what you say, you'd eventually replace us. That's the law of nature."

"And the end!"

"Where were you? When we came upon your herd?"

"Apes are being used as slaves!"

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

"Apes. All. Die. Here."

"Ape. Not kill. Ape."

"Didn't I tell you to back off?"

"You're not going home right now."

What must you think of me.

"You think I'm sick, don't you?"

"It's a madhouse! It's a madhouse!"

"You're going to stay here now."

"You're just like them. He's not crazy. The world's gone crazy. And he's the only one with the vision to get us through this. He sacrificed everything for us. You can't judge him. Who are you to judge him?"

"I hope you don't come to regret sparing his life. He's quite the good shot."

"Hey! I'll kill you!"

"You cannot save them."

"Why fight for apes?"

"I'm sorry, I was there for you."

"99 target acquired. Repeat. King Kong is dead."

"I didn't mean to kill your son. But if his destiny was to inherit your unholy kingdom, then I'm glad I did."

"If I see that animal anywhere near my house or my kids again!"

"What would you have done?"

"Take your stinking paw off me, you damn dirty ape!"

"So emotional!"

"Human work. Human work. Human work. Human work!"

"ENOUGH!"

"Tie this one and make him watch."

"I. Hate. You."

"I didn't know."

"What do you think my men would have done to your apes… if you had killed me?"

"It… it will not help. If you go there. And kill him."

"I can see how conflicted you are. You are confused in your purpose and you're angry at me for something I did. That was an act of war. But you're taking this all much too personally."

"You think that's funny, huh? I'll show you something funny."

"Or is killing me more important than the lives of your own apes?"

"I started the war. So hit me instead."

"You must've known that this fighting will never stop. It was always going to come down to this. It was going to be you… or us."

"This has to stop. This isn't the way."

"You can take comfort. Your struggle ends. Ours goes on."

"You know what they're capable of."

"Sleep."

"There is no hope."

"This is my fault."

"I thought we had a chance."

"The pain… it never goes away."

"I'm coming back soon, okay?"

"Please… don't go."

"Forgive me."

"Please… Please stay?"

Closing his eyes tightly, Caesar immediately brought his hands up over his ears to shield them from the verbal assault that he was getting. No matter how hard he tried to block out the sounds, the voices were relentless and kept assaulting him with hurtful words he wished not to hear.

Next thing Caesar knew, his world was filled with dark and terrible visions that had happened in the past. Apes fighting with human soldiers and being shot down in the city, bridge, beach and forest. Scenes of his fight with a deranged Koba came next, as they wrestled to take control of their apes. Visions of Pope firing his gun at all of the apes, losing himself to his madness and breaking their sacred law. Caesar witnissing his apes being tortured and made to work tirelessly without food and water for days on end. He saw his apes being strung up on crosses, high upon the frigid canyonside.

Caesar was suddenly reminded of the lashes he had received from Red, ordered by the Colonel, to break the apes spirits. With that memory, it was as if wounds were reopened, baring the tender flesh to the world. He took in a sharp breath when he felt a sharp pain to his side, causing him to glance down at himself and see the bolt of an arrow stuck into him. Before long, blood started to run down his wounded back and side, forming a pool of red underneath him.

These physical pain however, paled in comparison to what Caesar was made to remember next. He flinched hard as he was once more filled with the sight of both his dearly beloved and firstborn son's lifeless bodies laying upon the hard cold ground of their refuge behind the waterfall. His terrible anger that was misplaced as he had laid the blame of what had happened to his family, onto another. His path to revenge causing the death of one of his friends and the capture of his people.

A terrible reminder of all of his selfishness and failures.

Unable to take this anymore, Caesar snapped and screamed at the top of his lungs at the voices and visions that filled his being. He screamed and screamed until he could scream no more. Falling onto the ground with a painful thud, Caesar whimpered to himself as he pulled in his arms and legs, hugging himself as he finally broke down.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry," Caesar apologized over and over again.

While he laid there, Caesar started to feel quite tired. It was as if the energy from his body was being drained, causing his limbs to go cold and numb. Funny enough, the more he lost himself, the more the visions and voices started to ebb away, taking his consciousness with them. Maybe he should just let this happen. All those terrible things that had occurred, it was because of him. This is his punishment for failing and being unable to keep his apes safe from harm. His torment for allowing his apes to lose their loved ones in this war. To allow his family to die, when he should have been there for them. He was weak and now he shall suffer for it, for all eternity. Letting out a deep breath, Caesar laid down his head onto the ground, closed his eyes and let whatever was going to happen, take him away.

As Caesar waited for the inevitable, he felt a hand placing itself upon his temple.

At the touch, warmth filled his body and the terrible voices suddenly vanished, leaving Caesar in complete silence. Confused, he opened his eyes, expecting to be assaulted by the terrible images once more. Instead, Caesar was met with green life of the trees and grass that surrounded him. Huffing in surprise, Caesar steadily got up from the ground and looked around himself, seeing nothing but trees spreading out on all sides of him.

What happened? Where were the voices and images that had plagued him just mere moments ago? Remembering that his wounds had opened back up, Caesar looked down at himself and saw that his body was clean of the offending blemishes to his body. Confusingly, he let his gaze wander back around him, trying to figure out what was going on and how he had now gotten there.

As sunlight filtered through the trees, Caesar can now feel the warmth of the sun's rays as they landed upon him, filling him with energy and healing his broken body. Closing his eyes, Caesar couldn't help but take in a deep breath, letting his lungs fill with the smells from the air, trees and river around him. This place… it was like their home. Somewhere safe.

But Caesar questioned once more. How did he get there?

While in the midst of his thoughts, Caesar was surprised when he felt two arms coming from behind and gently wrap themselves around him. Caesar, of course, was surprised by this, but for some reason it did not make him jump. Instead he felt… protected and most of all, loved. Curiously, Caesar turned around to see who the arms belonged to and he was taken aback when he was met with the face of a familiar female chimp.

The wonderful face of his dearly beloved, Cornelia.

"Cornelia?" Caesar breathed, his eyes going wide and not surly believing what he saw in front of him.

The female chimp however, simply smiled at Caesar's reaction and bowed her head slightly at him in acknowledgement. Caesar was quite taken aback of the image of his mate in front of him. Instead of looking like when he had tragically last seen her, she looked much younger and very well. It was as if he had met her again when he had first laid eyes on her at the San Bruno Primate Shelter, so very long ago.

Still at a loss for words, Caesar reached up and traced a knuckle across Cornelia's cheek, feeling warm flesh underneath his own. Caesar couldn't believe that Cornelia, his Cornelia was standing in front of him. He knew though that deep down, his beloved Cornelia was no longer among the living and this was nothing but a dream. However, upon feeling her warm skin underneath his touch and seeing her stand in front of him now, Caesar couldn't care less that this was all a dream and hoped that it would last forever.

As deep raw emotions bubbled from within Caesar's chest, he couldn't help but but huff out in wonder. Cornelia on the other hand, had closed her eyes and leaned into his touch before she raised her own hand up to cup it over his own. As Cornelia opened her eyes, Caesar stared into them lovingly. Without a word, Caesar embraced his beloved tightly before finally resting their foreheads atop each other.

"Cornelia. Oh, Cornelia," Caesar spoke in a shaky voice.

Pulling back, Caesar stared into the eyes of his beloved once more and couldn't help but feel a heavy guilt weighing down on his heart. He was then reminded as to why Cornelia was in this dream-like state once more. That it was his fault for leaving her and their children to fend for themselves when he should have been there for them.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Caesar apologized as he looked away and down to the side. "I failed you. Failed both you and our sons. Failed our friends, our apes… everyone."

Upon hearing his apology, Cornelia's brows furrowed as concerned etched itself upon her features. She then reached out and placed a couple fingers under Caesar's chin and brought his face back toward her. Seeming to take a breath, Cornelia simply closed her eyes and shook her head in response to him. Caesar did not understand why Cornelia was shaking her head at him, but when she embraced him, that was when he knew.

When Cornelia had hugged him, he didn't hear her speak. Rather, he more or less felt what she wanted to convey to him. He felt her letting him know that what had happened to her, their family and the apes were not his fault. That no one could have prevented this and that he shouldn't blame himself. She let him understand that she didn't blame him and knew that he did what he could to keep them all safe.

Along with Cornelia's thoughts and emotions, Caesar could feel a multitude of other minds and feelings as well. Upon feeling the presence of so many others, Caesar couldn't help but huff in wonder as he could feel and sense these familiar beings. These thoughts and feelings were all filled with joy, adoration and love. Closing his eyes, Caesar could feel himself being surrounded by old friends and family. He felt the presence of Buck, Luca, Glade, Percy, Wolfie, Keling, Furaha, Rafael and his family, and so much more around him. Most of all, Caesar could sense strongly the thoughts of his first family, those of Will, Caroline and Charles hugging him close to them protectively.

So overwhelmed with such emotions, Caesar couldn't contain himself as he dropped down onto his knees and hugged his arms around himself. Gritting his teeth, Caesar was confused as to why they were not blaming him for the pain that he had caused.

But he knew better.

Just like Cornelia, they all never blamed Caesar and understood that he had tried all that he could to keep the peace between humans and apes. To try and prevent a war from ever occurring between apes and humans.

And that was enough.

"Thank you," Caesar whispered quietly.

Opening his eyes, Caesar saw Cornelia silently but patiently watching over him. Wiping his face with the back of his arm, Caesar slowly got up and met his mate in the eyes once more.

"Thank you," He said again to her before looking all around him. "All of you. For helping me."

Once Caesar was done with showing his gratitude, he felt soft fingers interlocking with his own. He glanced back at Cornelia and smiled at her, to which she tenderly returned. He then felt her leading him away, through the forest. He wasn't sure where he was being led to, but trusted Cornelia nonetheless. While Caesar followed his beloved through the forest, he couldn't help but notice that the woods got thicker and thicker, the further they travelled. It wasn't until the two of them had made it to the forest's edge, did they finally stop in their tracks.

When they had came to a halt, Caesar then saw that there was a dense fog that loomed just past the trees in front of him. They billowed and swirled like smoke from flames, except there were no fires in the forest. Curiously, Caesar turned his attention from the fog to curiously glance at Cornelia, who was expectedly looking at him. After a few seconds, Caesar could sense her and his head quickly snapped back and forth from the fog to his mate.

"You want me to go there?" Caesar asked.

Cornelia silently at Caesar to confirm. Confused, Caesar fully turned toward Cornelia and took the female ape's hands into his own.

"Why?" Caesar asked as his eyes searched Cornelia's face for answers.

A bittersweet expression overcame Cornelia's features as she stared back to her Caesar. Drawing back her hands, Cornelia kept her gaze upon her dearly beloved.

"Because you must go." Cornelia gestured. "You have to."

Caesar huffed and stared at Cornelia, not understanding her.

"But why?" Caesar asked. "I don't understand. I want to stay here, with you and the others."

A few tears fell from Cornelia's eyes and she silently shook her head slowly before reaching out and embracing Caesar again. She then pulled back and looked her beloved in the face once more.

"I know that you want to stay," Cornelia signed back to her Caesar. "But you cannot. Not right now. You must leave."

Caesar became crestfallen and once more did not understand why he couldn't stay with them. But Cornelia had reached out and gently cupped his face, pulling him in so that their foreheads could touch. Closing his eyes, Caesar could feel the sadness within Cornelia and sensed that it was very difficult for her to tell him what to do.

"Promise me, you will go," Cornelia asked in an otherworldly wispy voice.

Eyes shutting tightly, Caesar reached up and took a hold of Cornelia's hand with his own, moving it so that he could place snout upon it. After a long pause with them standing there, Caesar lifted his lips away from his beloved's hand and nodded once at her, hating what he was going to say next.

"I… I promise," he said slowly.

When Caesar had opened his eyes, he had suddenly found himself standing all alone by the forest's edge. No longing sensing Cornelia and the other's, Caesar could feel a large chunk within his very being stood there for a long while before he finally turned around and faced the fog just beyond the trees.

Caesar wanted nothing more than to just turn back around and leave, not caring where this fog would lead him. But then, he would be breaking his promise to his Cornelia, who had asked him to go through it. Whatever this fog is, it was supposed to lead him somewhere where Cornelia and the others couldn't go. Taking in a sharp breath, Caesar lifted his head up slightly and walked right through the dense haze.

As Caesar had passed through the fog, a thought had suddenly occurred to him. Back when he was with Cornelia and the others. Not once did he feel the presence of Blue Eyes from among them and in turn, was not able to properly apologize to his oldest son. With that thought in mind, Caesar turned back around and was going to go back but was suddenly stopped when he felt something holding strong onto his right arm.

Looking back to see what was holding him, Caesar's eyes fell upon the red-like string that was strung tightly within his arm to the fog beyond. He had forgotten about the string and tugged at it hard, hoping that it would give him some slack. When it didn't he used both of his arms to grab a hold of it and pulled hard.

"I need to see my son! I need to tell him that I was sorry!" Caesar shouted desperately while straining against the damned string.

But no matter how hard he pulled or how much he pleaded, the string that was embedded within his arm would not let up.

Gritting his teeth in frustration and feeling his eyes becoming wet, Caesar struggled and cried out angrily at the thing that was preventing him from going back. Why couldn't he go back and say his goodbye to his eldest child? Why was it doing this to him? Was this a part of his punishment still? To have seen his beloved, his human family and friends but not to see his son? Why did the universe torment him so?

After a long struggle with the rope, Caesar had finally given up and let his body go slack. Face strained with angry tears flowing down his cheeks, he slowly turned his attention back to the red cord. With hatred burning within him, Caesar finally relented and decided to see where this thing would lead him, traversing back into the thick fog.

Just as he made several yards deeper into the haze, Caesar had suddenly gasped as pain shot through his body. Caught off guard by this, Caesar had stumbled and fell onto the ground with a hard thud. Groaning, Caesar looked down at himself and noticed that his body ached terribly, reminding him of the agony that he had experienced not too long ago. Angrily gritting his teeth, Caesar pushed himself up onto his feet and continued forward.

With each step he took forward, Caesar could feel lancing pain running across his back. But bitter anger fueled his body, causing him to continue onward. The further Caesar had travelled through the fog, the more pain he had to endure, until eventually he felt one particular blow to the right side of his body that nearly caused him to black out from where he stood.

Coughing, Caesar fell onto his knees and held onto his right torso, feeling warmth ooze through his fingers again. With each breath he took, Caesar could feel his lungs burn within him. Hissing, Caesar recoiled and shut his eyes tightly, riding out the searing pain to his back and side.

While in the throes of his suffering, Caesar remembered that Cornelia had wanted him to move on, and he had promised her. He had to keep his word to her, to move forward and see this through, no matter what. With that in mind, renewing his strength Caesar grunted and got back up following the red string that was connected to him.

Eventually, Caesar had finally broken through the fog and found himself in the middle of some rundown hallway. Finding a wall to lean on, Caesar rested his aching body to catch his breath, while he let his gaze wander around the desolated area. There was nothing in particular that stood out, other than it looked like that the whole interior had a storm come through it. The floor was strewn with various equipment and paperwork, that were scattered about.

Once Caesar had recovered enough, he pushed himself off of the wall and wondered where he should go. It wasn't until he felt a tug to his right arm, was he reminded of the stupid red cord that was attached to him. Glaring at the thing, he followed it with his eyes, seeing that it led down the furthest end of the hallway and darted to the left. With a grunt, Caesar decided to follow it.

As Caesar trailed after the object, his heart had beaten quickly within his chest when he heard what sounded like whimpering off in the distance. Stopping in his tracks, Caesar listened closely and continued to hear the soft crying sound, which seemed to be in the same direction where the piece of string was leading to. Curiously, Caesar followed the sound, making sure to step over the debris that was scattered all over the ground.

While he traveled further into the strange place, Caesar felt as if he'd been here before, but could not make out when. It was as if his mind was trying to remind him that this place was important somehow. But for the life of him, but it was just not coming back right now and remained foggy.

The closer he got to the noise, Caesar saw that it was coming from within the broken down double door. It was also where the red string had disappeared off into as well. Taking a deep and wary breath, Caesar approached the doors and peered inside. When his eyes had laid upon the scene, that was when his memory jogged back to him. The building that he was in was none other than the Gyn-Sys Laboratories, the place of his birth.

Caesar felt as if he were stepping through time as he entered on through the broken double doors. He remembered when he had liberated the apes from the San Bruno Primate Shelter to this place and raided it. It was of course to not steal anything significant that belonged to the humans, no, but to save what had belonged to them, their apes. Caesar remembered it as clear as day when he had found Cornelia huddled within her cell and he had found her. Then both touched foreheads momentarily before escaping their dreaded place, leaving it all behind them.

As Caesar was walking past the broken cells and reminiscing about the past, the whimpering noise he had heard earlier, started up once more, just a few rows down from where he was. Caesar then noticed that the red string that was connected to his arm, led right into the cell where the whimpering noise was coming from. Unsure of what to do, Caesar cautiously made his way towards the damaged cell.

Bracing himself for anything, Caesar peered inside and was surprised to see the form of an ape within the cell, with their back turned toward him. Caesar then saw that the red cord that was embedded within him seemed to lead right up to the other ape and was stuck into their left forearm. Letting his gaze fall back onto the ape, whose back was still turned toward him, Caesar could see the other simian rocking back and forth slowly within their cell.

Curious to know who this other ape was, Caesar took a cautious step into the cell and made his way towards the other. Getting closer to the other ape, Caesar could hear the muffled whimpering noises that it was making. Turning his head slightly, Caesar listened closely to hear what the other ape was saying.

"Wake up... Please don't leave... Wake up... Please… Don't leave me… Live."

The other ape was definitely male and sounded oddly similar to Caesar but he couldn't exactly put a face to whom. Making sure to not frighten this ape, Caesar slowly reached out and tapped the other male on the shoulder.

No response.

Trying again, Caesar tapped the other ape once more but like before, he elicited no response from the other simian. Instead, the ape continued to mutter to himself, as if in a daze or trance-like state of mind. Maybe this required a bit of a more direct approach.

"Hey," Caesar spoke this time as he stepped around the other ape to see who they were.

When Caesar had sidestepped the other simian to face them, he was then met with a familiar face, one with a scar running down the other's features, accompanied by golden-green and milky-white eyes. The moment Caesar had seen the other ape, all of his memories that were blank before-and had played out only sparsley since he had come to this dreamlike world-came rushing back to him. Images of their escape from the compound. Their survival of the snowy avalanche, their trek across the lands toward their new home. The faces of his still remaining apes, friends and family. And now...

"Koba?" Caesar said in a tired voice.

Upon hearing his name, it seemed to have roused the bonobo from whatever stupor that he was in and caused the scarred bonobo to look around himself. The bonobo seemed as if he were lost and not even seeing Caesar in front of him.

"Caesar?" Koba said aloud.

Seeing the bonobo becoming quite distressed, Caesar quickly reached out and took a firm hold of the other ape's shoulders.

"Koba," Caesar answered the scarred bonobo. "I'm here."

The bonobo stopped his movements and stared directly at Caesar, or rather it looked as if the scarred ape was looking right through him instead.

"Caesar," Koba repeated in a relieved breath, a look of hope dawning his features.

Finally getting Koba's attention, a relieved smile appeared on Caesar's lips. Looking past the scarred bonobo however, Caesar saw that the area outside of the cell that they were in, was now covered in a thick dark fog, like at the forest. Curiously, Caesar walked around Koba and was about to take a step through the fog to see where it would lead him next, but was stopped by a sudden hand grabbing onto his own.

"Don't go," Koba said in a quiet desperate voice with his head held low. "Stay?"

Caesar blinked, unsure as to why Koba was suddenly asking him to stay and not go into the fog beyond. Letting his gaze wander back to the strange dark clouds in front of him, Caesar sensed that if he were to go through it, he would most likely not return and felt as if that was not what Cornelia had wanted of him.

"Please?" Koba continued, still not looking up at Caesar.

Taking a deep breath, Caesar turned back around and tightened his grip around Koba's arm as well.

"I'll stay," Caesar said to the scarred bonobo.

When Caesar had said that to Koba, the scarred bonobo then lifted his head up and stared Caesar in the eyes, a genuine and happy smile upon his lips. Seeing Koba's smile, Caesar couldn't help but smile in return as well.

Before more can be said between the both of them, a sudden blinding light immediately surrounded the two apes, causing Caesar to shield his eyes from it.

When Caesar had finally come to, he noticed that his body was laying down on something soft beneath him. The next thing he noticed were the sounds of a beeping noise that sounded off every few seconds. While he laid there, Caesar had then tried to move and immediately noticed the dull ache all over his body. Not just that, he could practically feel things on him that normally shouldn't be. Caesar tried to move his limbs but they wouldn't respond to his command.

Frustrated, Caesar gritted his teeth and struggled to open his eyelids, which took much effort to do so. As soon as Caesar opened his eyes, he was met with what looked like to be a hospital room. Huffing, Caesar's heart spiked and wondered if he had been abducted and was being experimented on by humans.

He was about to panic and redouble his efforts to get back up but stopped when his eyes landed upon the occupants within his room. There sitting in the corner was Maurice and Nova, their eyes closed in a deep sleep. Letting his gaze wander to his right, Caesar then saw Koba resting his head upon his bedside, breathing deeply in his slumber as well.

Wondering as to what was going on and how he got there, Caesar tried to replay the last things he remembered within his mind. He was immediately disrupted when he heard a small knocking noise, catching his attention. Looking up from Koba, Caesar was then very surprised to see a human standing by the doorway of the room. And not just any human, someone he had not seen in a very long time.

Malcolm.

The man smiled widely, relief written all over his face, as well as Caesar's. Before Caesar could open his mouth to ask the man some questions, Malcolm held up a hand to stop him from speaking. Confused, Caesar closed his mouth but watched as Malcolm gestured at the others, indicating that they were all still sleeping.

"Rest," the man had signed, surprising Caesar. "We'll talk soon. I promise."

It was very basic hand signing but Caesar understood well enough what Malcolm had meant, that all will be explained later. Now was not the time to ask questions but to rest and heal. With a deep breath and knowing that he was in good hands. Caesar with Malcolm and rested his head back down onto the pillows before closing his eyes and letting peaceful rest come to him.