As the sun rose over the horizon, so did the apes. They scurried about, gathering material to build the monument in Ceasar's likeness.
Meanwhile, Ceasar looked around the camp for Maurice, realizing he hasn't returned from the ship.
"I should go look for him." Ceasar whispered as he walked to the horses.
As Ceasar rode through the forest he began to get the sudden urge that he was being followed.
"Who's there?" he said looking over the area, but finding nothing.
Ceasar kept riding slowly, still feeling like someone was following him.
"Is there anyone out there?!" yelled Ceasar, turning back around, but getting no answer.
When Ceasar turned himself back around he was startled by a familiar face approaching him on a horse, Zira.
"Why didn't you answer when I cried out earlier?" asked Ceasar angrily.
"Because, I don't know about you, but I would rather not alert any dangerous creatures that live here." Zira answered.
"I suppose you're smarter than I originally thought." Ceasar sighed "But you should go back to the camp. I can handle things out here."
"Not if you shout at everything that spooks you." Zira retorted.
"I was not spooked." Ceasar defended "I was merely checking to see if anyone was following behind me."
"Of course, courageous leader." Zira chuckled.
"Very well." started Ceasar "If you want to tag along I'm not going to hold myself responsible for what happens to you."
"Alright." answered Zira, following behind Ceasar.
"So..." started Ceasar "What is it that you're doing out here anyway?"
"I just wanted to take in all the beauty of this place. See what this island had to offer."
"It is quite beautiful." agreed Ceasar "But sometimes the most beautiful things can also be the most dangerous."
As the two rode on, Ursus and Aldo watched from far behind.
"I wonder what those two are doing out here." said Aldo.
"I wonder why the doctor sent the two of us out here with Marcus in the first place." said Ursus.
"I don't have any answers. All I know is that the Great Ceasar is going to get exactly what's coming to him."
Later that day, near where the ship was, Maurice awoke with his face in the sand.
"Oh." moaned Maurice in pain "What happened? Where am I?"
Maurice pushed himself up and looked around, finding Marcus standing over him.
"Marcus?" said Maurice weakly "What are you doing here?"
"I was sent to follow you." answered Marcus.
"But, why would Ceasar send you after me?" asked Maurice, confused.
"I wasn't sent by Ceasar." smiled Marcus.
"What?" questioned Maurice, soon realizing that something was up "What are you planning?"
"The doctor and I had a good long talk about your precious Ceasar. He sent Ursus, Aldo and I after you to get rid of you." Marcus knelt down to face Maurice, who was trying to prop himself up off the ground, but couldn't.
"W-What did you do to me?" Maurice asked, looking back at his feet.
"I had to make sure you wouldn't get away." explained Marcus "Otherwise the whole plan will be ruined."
"Plan?"
"You ask too many questions you old fart." sighed Marcus "Now listen. Zaius, he hates Ceasar. So naturally he told the best generals in Ceasar's army to come out here and make sure you didn't return. He knew would be coming after you... and I did too. That's why I told Aldo and Ursus to fall behind to keep an eye open for our great leader."
"If you think you're going to kill Ceasar, you've got another thing coming!" Maurice answers angrily.
"Oh, we're not going to kill him." chuckled Marcus "Those creatures out there, that's what is going to kill him. Why do you think we're even here on this island? You think Ceasar wanted to be here? It was all Zaius' idea. Zaius thought of everything, and we followed along."
"But what about the other apes?" asked Maurice, worried for the safety of the others "What's going to happen to them?"
"Don't you worry about them." said Marcus "Zaius is going to take good care of them."
Maurice couldn't believe his ears. A coup was being set up against Ceasar. He wanted to warn him, but he couldn't even stand. What was he to do? What other plots are being done behind their leader's back? He needed to know, but he didn't want to raise Marcus' awareness of Nova.
"Tell me Maurice..." said Marcus "Why'd you come all the out here in the first place?"
"I-I... I forgot something important." Maurice muttered.
"Really?." asked Marcus.
Maurice nodded his head, but Marcus responded by kneeing him right in the face and knocking him on his back. Marcus proceeded to drag Maurice away from the ship. Maurice still weak, unable to fight back, could only lay and watch as Marcus picked a key out of a grenade and threw into onto the ship. The flames engulfed the ship, as Maurice watched, with only one thing on his mind...
"Nova..."
To be continued...