Author's Note:
So, with this chapter, I've finally caught up to the progress on my AO3 account. From this point and onwards, I will be posting one chapter each Friday (this one being today's chapter). If you are interested in the writing progress connected to this story, there are author's notes on each one over on my AO3 account. Other than that, everything is the same.
Hope you are all enjoying the story so far and thank you so much for reading!
Lydia
"Must go. Now." Caesar spoke after Blue Eyes had explained that Koba had sent for the females and young to be brought to the city. The bonobo was obviously planning to make some sort of symbolic takeover of the human colony, the ultimate show of the ape's superiority.
The apes around Caesar all nodded in agreement, as did Malcolm when the Ape King turned to him.
Up until now Lydia had been in some kind of trance as those around her spoke. At least that's what it had felt like to her. All sound around her cancelling out into grey, static noise as she looked down at the body of her dead love, the feel of Orion's arms around her being the only thing still rooting her to reality.
She wasn't crying into his chest anymore. Only staring down blankly as the salty liquid dried on her cheeks, her breath evening out as she calmed herself.
She had done so relatively quickly – certainly quicker than when her father and brother had died.
Was she getting used to this? Losing loved ones?
She hoped not, as that would mean she was turning cold towards the world and everything in it. She couldn't do that now – Orion still needed her. More so than ever now.
And she had made Roy a promise…
"Right. I'm coming too." She said with an air of finality in her voice, getting up after gently untangling herself from Orion's arms.
Her son had been following the conversation of the group while consoling his mother, though he still had trails of tears glistening down his cheeks. Lydia understood. He had never lost someone dear to him while still being old enough to remember it, and he was not done grieving this loss just yet.
Truth be told, neither was Lydia, if she was honest with herself.
But she couldn't sit idly by right now.
All eyes turned to her sceptically and Maurice made a questioning grumble from deep within his chest. Both he and Caesar had their eyebrows furrowed at her, deep creases appearing across their brows.
"Too dangerous. Apes could kill you, Lydia." Maurice signed slowly, almost as if speaking to a child. Or maybe that was just how she perceived it. Most likely he was only concerned for her safety – they were going into a place where humans were captured and killed.
There were a couple of things Maurice had forgotten, though.
"They wouldn't dare, especially not if Caesar is there." She argued back, crossing her arms over her chest. "And besides, I am not a kid, Maurice. I'm a grown woman and I want to go face Koba with you all. The Ape Colony is my home as well."
Caesar stepped forward, then, standing less than a foot away from her, eyes intense yet sympathetic as they bored into her own ones.
"I promised Roy. To keep you safe." He spoke in his gravelly, deep voice, breathing evenly through his nose as he paused. "I cannot. If you insist. Putting yourself. In danger."
Had the circumstances been different, she might have listened. Might have obeyed Caesar's silent plea – the one she saw expressed within his gold-speckled, green eyes.
But she had lost too much to be able to just sit back and wait for others to fight a battle she should, by all rights, help win.
"No, Caesar. I won't just sit here, waiting and worrying while you guys are out there, facing Koba and his followers. I have done that for too long now while Blue Eyes has been away. I've had enough." She answered, cool and collected as she stared right back into the Ape King's vibrant orbs. His nostrils flared and his gaze turned hard at her obvious defiance. Any other human faced with his commanding, piercing stare would have recoiled at the intensity of it.
Lydia didn't even flinch.
"And. if you die? What about. Your son? Will lose. Father and. Mother." Caesar challenged right back. It was a low blow, Lydia thought, but nonetheless a valid point.
Orion, however, was not going to let himself be used as a pawn in Caesar's game to keep Lydia out of harm's way, which quickly became evident as the young ape stepped forward, jaw set and eyes hardened as he stared into the eyes of his leader.
"Mother. Go too." He argued, surprising everyone present with his stern tone. Even his own mother, who had never experienced her adoptive son being so assertive in his entire life.
"Part of. Ape family… Deserves to go." Orion finished, nodding, more to himself than anyone else, Lydia guessed, signalling that he had made his point clear.
Caesar still wasn't pleased and opened his mouth to reply when a hand was laid heavily onto his shoulder from beside him.
It was Rocket, who had silently moved up beside the Ape King.
At first, Lydia thought Rocket would take Caesar's side, merely interrupting the other ape for an opportunity to put in his own two cents in this conversation. That's not what happened at all, however.
"Let her come, Caesar." The partially bald ape signed once he let go of his leader's shoulder. Caesar only stared at him with eyes full of confusion, prompting his old rival to elaborate.
Lydia had to admit, she was just as confused as Caesar, though pleased that Rocket was taking her side. The question was why he did it, though. For as long as she could remember, Rocket had always, always followed Caesar.
In everything.
Without question.
"Lydia is not normal human. Not normal female either. Never was. You should not treat her so." The chimp argued, his dark face calm as he looked Caesar in the eyes. "She lost someone close. Family… Would you be able to stay?"
Suddenly, Lydia knew what this was about – at least some of it. The pain in Rocket's eyes as he said the word 'family' was enough for her to figure it out.
He knew Ash was dead. His son. His only child.
Blue Eyes has probably told him, Lydia thought. How horrible…
Lydia and Orion had at least had time to exchange some last words with Roy. To see him one last time before he had passed.
Rocket had had no such luxury… and Tinker…
Lydia didn't dare think about her friend's reaction to being informed that her precious child had been murdered. By Koba, no less.
Caesar looked at the ground briefly with his customary frown plastered across his rugged face, considering Rocket's question.
"No…" He replied with a sigh, his stiff posture from before deflating in defeat. "I could not."
The Ape King nodded at Rocket, indicating that he got the point, before turning back to Lydia, his gaze much softer than before.
"And neither can you." He relented, raising one of his huge hands to place it heavily on Lydia's shoulder, shaking her ever so lightly to underline what he said next. "But be careful. Stay close."
"I will do my best." Lydia agreed, trying her damned best to lighten up the conversation, though her own strained voice only made is sound like a half-assed attempt at misplaced humour.
Caesar nodded all the same, his gaze lingering a moment longer than necessary before he turned to Malcolm.
Standing close by with his family, the man seemed to have caught on to what most of the conversation revolved around, as there were no traces of confusion left on his face to indicate otherwise. He immediately went straight to the task at hand and explained the route through the old subway that he planned to take with the apes.
When the plan of action had been laid out, Lydia turned to Ellie.
"Can I ask you to keep an eye on the dogs while we're gone? I don't want them to get in the way or get hurt. Besides, you guys are safer with them around as well." Lydia requested, trying not to sound too demanding. She felt like she owed Ellie a lot for forgiving her previous behaviour so readily, as well as patching up Caesar, which had her feeling bad asking for favours.
But Blaze and Storm were not going to be of any help in the city. An accidental whimper while going through the subway would be enough to alert anyone near any of the exits to their presence and while the dogs were very obedient, Lydia simply couldn't control everything.
They just couldn't risk it.
"Of course, Lydia." She answered without hesitation, a soft, understanding smile appearing on her face, though there was no trace of pity to be found on her features. Yet another thing Lydia liked about Ellie. While she did show compassion and sympathy towards others when they were distressed, she didn't wallow in it like some tended to do.
Lydia nodded, a weak attempt at a smile appearing on her face, though she wasn't sure if she managed to make it look sincere or if it just turned out as a strange grimace. It was hard to display any positive feelings when it felt like her entire being was flooding with grief. Once again, Ellie handled it gracefully, merely asking about the commands Lydia used to control Blaze and Storm.
As might be expected, the two canines were less than happy about being left behind by Lydia and Orion, and Blaze especially was very vocal in his protests, whimpering and softly yelping when the group began to leave the premises.
He has always been the more dependent of the two, Lydia mused as she closed the rickety fence gate behind her.
They moved through the streets in complete silence, soon exchanging the quiet, overgrown suburb for the bleak, desolate city of post-pandemic San Francisco. Regarding the gaping empty windows of the buildings that began to tower over the group, Lydia found herself putting Roy's passing into the back of her mind while giving the mission at hand top-priority.
She was happy for the distraction, welcoming the chance to finally be able to do something rather than sit around and wait as she had done for these past few days. She hated such stagnation. It made her restless and irritable as her mind raced with worry while her body was forced to remain still.
She adjusted the bow across her shoulder as she moved up beside Rocket stealthily, keen eyes darting back and forth between the deserted alleys and empty doorways ever so often. Lydia knew that the closer they got to the inner part of the city, the higher the chance of discovery – she had to stay vigilant.
But there was also something she needed to say to Rocket.
The ape acknowledged her presence beside him with a single nod of his head, though his eyes would briefly scan their surroundings from time to time. She wasn't the only one who was on the lookout, which made her feel a whole lot safer.
"Thank you, Rocket… For what you did earlier." Lydia signed discreetly once the balding ape's green eyes were once again directed at her. "I'm not sure Caesar would have agreed if you hadn't stepped in." She clarified, though she was certain Rocket knew what she was talking about.
The corner of his lip quirked up into a smirk that was barely there to begin with, but even so, it didn't go unnoticed by Lydia.
"Not like he could have made you stay, even if I had not said anything." Rocket signed back, and though it was tainted by an underlying sadness, a glint of amusement did appear in his eyes. "You are both very stubborn."
Lydia shrugged at the statement. There was no sense in denying it – she was well aware of the fact, and she knew Caesar well enough to know that it was true for him as well.
"So… You don't think that it's too dangerous for me to come?" She asked next, the glance she sent his way curious and maybe even a bit accusative. She just couldn't help it.
Rocket pursed his lips as he mulled over the question for a short bit as they rounded a corner to go down a smaller street, Malcolm and Caesar leading the group through the dark alley as safely as they could.
"I agree with Caesar and Maurice." Rocket finally answered, looking at Lydia seriously. "But you loved my son like he was your own child, and your Roy was my friend."
Lydia resisted the burning of tears prickling at the back of her eyes, Rocket's sincere words hitting home as the group turned down another street. She held back the tears this time.
"You are one of us. Deserve to be there. Deserve justice for your family." The balding ape male finished, bumping a fist to his chest and jutting out his chin at her.
The gesture made Lydia smile despite herself, and she reached over to gently squeeze Rocket's shoulder.
They didn't speak much after that, having said all that needed to be said for now, as Malcolm finally halted the group's advance. They now stood in front of the entrance to the subway.
"Now, everyone, stick close together and be as quiet as you can." The human male spoke, just loud enough for the entirety of the group to hear. They couldn't be sure if any hostile apes or humans were in the area or not, so he had, wisely, decided to keep his voice low. "Every sound you make will become way louder down there because of the echo, so watch where you step and don't make any sudden noises, okay?"
Everyone nodded in agreement and soon began descending the steps down into the old, abandoned subway in pairs of two and three, Malcolm and Caesar taking the lead, while Lydia and Rocket elected to guard the rear of the group.
It was much, much darker than it had been above the surface, and Lydia found herself struggling to find her footing in the very beginning of their trek through the underground tunnels. Luckily, Malcolm had had the sense to bring a flashlight, but it only lit the way ahead for the forefront of the group, leaving the members in the back to keep their eyes on where the person in front of them was stepping. It had prompted Rocket to reach out and grab hold of Lydia's arm to support her, which the woman was secretly grateful for, even though it did make her feel like somewhat of a burden to the chimp.
She took comfort in the fact that she knew Rocket didn't see it that way, however, and swallowed her pride in favour of not getting hurt on the way to their destination. There was no denying that the apes were more sure-footed due to their differently shaped appendages, which enabled them to grab on to the surface they stood on, should it turn out to be uneven.
Still, the route through the subway proved to be relatively problem-free, seeing as their biggest issue was the darkness, rather than ape-guards loyal to the misguided bonobo they were aiming to confront.
Lydia did her best to keep an eye on Orion throughout the trip towards the city. He hadn't said much during that time. Not to her, anyway. However, she had noticed how Blue Eyes kept close to her adopted son and had seen them have a small conversation in sign while they were still above the surface. The Ape Prince had approached Orion and discreetly offered words of comfort and apologies, which the younger adolescent had responded gratefully to.
It had warmed Lydia's heart to see, and helped ease the pain of her recent loss somewhat.
She still had someone to love and care for, she knew, and wouldn't let herself wallow in sorrow just yet.
Orion still needed her – but it was nice to know that others were there to help.
Guess I'm a single parent now, she thought without humour as Rocket kept leading her through the darkness. She reached up to touch her bear-and-cougar tooth necklace absent-mindedly with her free hand, tears prickling at the back of her eyes again.
Lydia willed them away before they had the chance to fall. She had to control herself for now.
They were making good progress and soon, Lydia was pulled from her dark thoughts by the light appearing at the other end of the tunnel. At first, Lydia thought it was a section of the subway which had become lit due to their work at the dam, but when voices could be heard from further ahead, all her senses went on high alert as every muscle in her body tightened in preparation for a fight.
And just in time as well.
She was just about to scold herself for being too paranoid when yells could be heard from further down the tunnel and guns were fired in her group's general direction.
"Are you okay?" Malcom asked once everyone had taken cover at the splitting-point of the tunnel, chest heaving as he tried to calm himself from the fright the shots gave him. His gaze was directed at Caesar, but Lydia knew that he was asking everyone by referring to their leader. Caesar only took a moment to look over his followers, Lydia included, before turning back to Malcolm and nodding seriously.
"Who's there!?" Came a male voice from down the lit tunnel, sounding aggressive and nervous at the same time. It wasn't a voice Lydia had heard before, but she didn't like the sound of it.
"If you're human, you better say so!" The voice came again, still with that aggressive edge to it – though it was clearly nervousness which prevailed in the man's tone.
"It's me! It's Malcolm!" The ape group's human guide yelled, placatingly as always, which almost had Lydia roll her eyes. It seemed to work, though, as there was a pause in the new human's footsteps. "Don't shoot!" Malcolm pleaded behind his cover, holding off the would-be attacker verbally before turning towards the group of apes he had been guiding through the city.
"Take the stairs. They'll bring you around and up under the street, okay?" The man spoke, eyes darting between Caesar and Lydia, who he seemed to feel the most comfortable with by now. Or maybe it was because the two of them seemed to have the most authority in the group – Lydia couldn't rightly tell.
Caesar was the first to nod and immediately signed for the group behind him to go towards the stairs the human male had pointed out. Only Lydia stayed, feeling surprisingly anxious about leaving Malcolm to deal with these seemingly trigger-happy humans, as well as wanting to have Caesar follow the group as soon as possible. She didn't want to risk him getting separated from them (again).
Malcolm seemed to take Caesar's nod as all the confirmation he needed and began to turn back towards the lit tunnel when the chimp laid a heavy hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
Malcolm turned back instantly, locking eyes with the large ape in the low light.
"Thank you." Caesar spoke sincerely, letting the look in his eyes do most of the talking – as was his custom. Lydia had always admired his ability to do that.
"Trust." Malcolm replied simply, but no less sincerely.
Then, the man shot a meaningful look at Lydia, nodding once when their eyes met, and the woman knew what Malcolm was trying to tell her.
Thank you. Be safe. Look out for him.
Words weren't needed. She understood perfectly, nodding back at the man before turning and going towards the stairs with Caesar.
The last thing Lydia heard before the group left the subway was Malcolm's voice yelling at the man further down the tunnel, warning him not to shoot as Malcolm came out of hiding. She truly hoped the man would heed his words – Lydia didn't wish for Ellie and Alex to experience the same thing her and Orion just had, and more importantly, she didn't want Malcolm to get hurt.
He was a good guy, after all.
Once they were above the surface again, Lydia discovered that they were on the very street where the tower Koba and the other apes had taken was situated. Not that she knew San Francisco or anything, but the huge, half-finished tower, glowing with light from bulbs and torches alike was exceptionally hard to miss.
And as they got closer, Lydia was also quick to notice that Koba hadn't exactly put security at the top of his priority list. Only a few guards were there to keep an eye out for intruders, and they were absolutely awe-struck the moment they saw Caesar and his entourage.
It didn't escape Lydia's notice how Rocket, Maurice and Orion had all placed themselves protectively around her, creating a wall of muscle between her and the potentially hostile apes. She didn't know if she like this or not, seeing as she had never liked being coddled in any way, yet still was aware that she stood no chance on her own against a horde of apes meaning to harm her.
They didn't seem like that would have been their intention either way, however, as they quickly moved aside and followed suit as the group finally reached the ladder leading to the top of the tower.
That's when Caesar turned to Lydia with a serious expression.
"You should. Stay here. Stay Below." He spoke lowly, though the apes around them were sure to hear it either way. Lydia had no doubt most of them agreed with his statement.
"But I know. You will not." The Ape King continued before she could make any kind of protest, a certain glint appearing in his eye, despite the confrontation that lie ahead.
"You know me too well." She replied with an easy shrug. "I want to see this through, Caesar."
She half-expected him to argue again. To tell her it was too dangerous and that she was just a human. A sentence that they both knew would sting, no matter how true it was.
Instead, however, he merely nodded with a slight frown across his face, accepting that he could not change her mind. It was not often that Caesar, the Ape King, gave up on something or accepted defeat. Lydia figured that Rocket and Orion's words still echoed through his mind, reminding him that while she may be human on the outside…
She was still one of them. Still an ape inside.
At least, she hoped that was the case.
"Stay close. To apes, then." Caesar caved completely, nodding towards Rocket, then Luca, then Orion. They all inclined their heads in agreement, accepting the task assigned to them without protest.
Lydia didn't much like the prospect of having to be looked after like that, but if that was what it took for him to allow her to go up there with the apes – if that was what it took to put his mind at ease so he could focus on the fight ahead – then she would accept it without question.
Also, she didn't much fancy ending up as a bloody smudge on a dirty sidewalk of post-pandemic San Francisco, so perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea. That still didn't mean she had to like it.
"All right." She agreed with a sigh, adjusting her backpack and bow on her back to prepare for the climb. It was a long way up, after all – better make everything sit comfortably before they began their ascend.
And just like that, they all began climbing the rusty, rickety ladder, one by one.
Lydia made sure to keep a tight grip and place her feet carefully on each step on the way up. Luca was behind her, ready to catch her if anything went wrong, while Orion was in front of her so she could keep an eye on him. Not that she saw anything other than his rear from this angle, but she still preferred being able to see him and make sure he was alright.
Now, Lydia wasn't afraid of heights per se, but once they had gone halfway up the ladder, the wind became slightly fiercer, blowing her dark bangs around her face and obscuring her view, making her very uncomfortable with her current situation. It sent an unpleasant jolt through her when one particularly powerful gust of wind gripped at her, almost knocking her off the ladder and making Luca reach out to grab her ankle in case she fell.
None of it managed to deter her, though. She meant it when she said she wanted to see this through. She wanted to witness the confrontation between Caesar and Koba. She wanted justice for Roy and Ash. She wanted everything to be right again.
It took a while, especially with the whole group having to go one by one up the ladder, but soon, they were at the very top of the half-finished tower where Koba had made his base, apes all around them on the metal beams, staring in wonder at their 'resurrected' leader.
Luca went forward to make sure Caesar was all right after the climb, laying a hand on his arm, but the large chimp just grunted and put up his own hand on the gorilla's, signalling he didn't need help. Lydia understood his reasons well enough. He didn't want to show any trace of weakness now – not in front of the colony. He needed to appear strong.
The ape moved back to stand by Lydia, Rocket and Orion, the human woman effectively getting circled by a massive, protective wall of pure muscle by the three apes. It was clear they were preparing for the worst.
And over there, by the crane on the other side of the tower, jumping down from the railing, was Koba.
Caesar moved forward, then, with slow, calculated steps as he walked onto the beam separating the two, his posture emanating calmness.
But Lydia knew better.
She knew that while he presented a calm and collected exterior, Caesar was full of anger, hurt and anxiety on the inside. He controlled it well, though, she had to give him that.
The human woman reached over and grabbed her adoptive son's hand in anticipation and felt him squeeze back just as tightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him baring his teeth ever so slightly in what Lydia suspected was suppressed rage at the sight of the bonobo. She couldn't rightly say she blamed him for this reaction, however. She was of much the same mind as her son.
Turning her full attention back at the scene in front of her, Lydia looked on with a growing sense of dread as Caesar now stood in front of this unpredictable enemy, hoping against hope that he would heed her words from the other night.
It was time now.
Time for the final showdown.
Time to see who was the strongest branch.
