Arum City

The soldier held the odd looking weapon exactly as he'd been instructed. It was like no other flint locking mechanism he'd ever seen. He was extremely nervous as the eye of every ape soldier was fixed squarely on him…including the General and Magistrate Ndola. His target wasn't all that far but the thing he held felt awkward, making him wonder if he could actually hit it.

"Get on with it, Gondar!" Grazot barked out.

"General…" Ndola interrupted, "please reconsider. This course of action will only…"

"Please sir, step over here. I would not want you to be inadvertently injured. You're much too valuable," General Grazot said respectfully. Although he was actually being more patronizing, than courteous.

"Ok Sir, we're ready." Captain Gondar replied as he turned to the sharpshooter. "Alright Vold, hold it like you were instructed and fire the pistol at the target I've set up." Then he whispered; "…And make sure you don't miss or the next thing on that stump might be you or me."

The makeshift target range was reinforced with some old wooden planks and was set up about 10 feet from the side of a hill. That was approximately 50 feet from the shooter and seemed like an ideal place for safety. It also allowed for a clear view specifically designed for the General and the Magistrate.

Vold eyed his target. On a wooden stump sat a huge pumpkin. It was the largest that Gondar could find on such short notice. It measured about 3 & ½' high and just about 4' wide. Next, Sharpshooter Vold aimed the pistol and squeezed the trigger. He felt the power and force of the weapon as it tugged slightly, but being a great deal stronger than a human, there was no lift. His ears, however, were a different story. They were as fragile as that of any human. The weapon was significantly louder than the muskets he was used to firing. The deafening sound made him jump, embarrassing him slightly. It also startled several of the horses, causing them to throw their riders and dart off in a panic. Groups of birds perched in nearby trees took flight, as well, 'cawing' as they flew off in fear.

Within the blink of an eye, the 9mm slug sailed through the air and hit its objective just below center mass. Of course, where it hit didn't matter. What did was the result. The oversized piece of fruit exploded into a thousand pieces. The bullet then punched through the wooden backdrop, spraying chunks of wood as it knocked its way through, until it finally disappeared into the hillside with a poof.

…Damn incredible! General Grazot thought to himself. It releases no smoke when fired, despite the force. I've got to have more of these!

Captain Gondar went to the target…or what was left of it… and held up the ripped and splintered wooden sheet. The gorillas who were not running down horses cheered, holding their muskets high above their heads. Others beat their chests and roared like their ancestors who roamed the jungles centuries earlier.

The only one not cheering was Ndola. Grazot recognized the look on his face too. The snake had just been introduced to Ndola's paradise. He also realized that …for now… Ndola was his superior. Grazot was no politician but thought this might be as good a time as any to learn the trade. If the Magistrate wasn't on board with his plan, it would dry up before it ever took root. Grazot had been overly aggressive with Ndola but he had to be. He needed to see firsthand what these weapons of wonder were capable of. …And now that he had, it was time to clean up the collateral damage.

"Secure that pistol Captain and bring it to me" Grazot ordered. "Give Vold the rest of the day off and let him …do whatever he pleases. Then dismiss the detachment and return them to their daily duties." Gondar saluted, returned the pistol and turned the detachment over to their individual leaders. He slapped Vold on the back and muttered something about joining the ape for a quick nip.

"Magistrate, a word please," Grazot said as he stepped into his new, political role. "I apologize if I appeared to overstep my authority. I can assure you it was only done to properly asses the coming threat and prepare for a way to neutralize it. The safety of our society and way of life is nothing to be trifled with."

"Appeared to overstep, General? You ignored and deliberately undercut my authority. And you did it several times …dismissing my concerns. You took a weapon designed by barbarians and flaunted it in front of a pack of bloodthirsty soldiers. This is not your private crusade, General Grazot. Just how do we explain a leap in know-how like this? Maybe you'd like be Magistrate, eh? Maybe you could invite the humans in for tea and undo over a hundred years of progress…As they slit our throats!" Ndola responded in his usual, hot-tempered, and sarcastic tone.

He then paused; looked around, making sure they were alone. Once he confirmed it was just the two of them, he went on. Pointing his finger in the general's chest, he clinched his teeth and added; "I have to dispatch a report to Prefect Sullen tomorrow. Perhaps you ought to carry that message yourself…AS A CORPORAL."

Grazot laughed quietly. "I think my wife beat you to that one, Magistrate." Ndola's expression remained the same. Both apes knew it was an idol threat but Grazot got the meaning between the lines. The Magistrate and Prefect were old, old friends. They both considered the presence of humans to be detrimental to everything they'd built. If Ndola pushed it, the General could be removed from his position as commander of the Western Ape Contingent. And if Grazot pressed any further, he'd probably do it too.

Realizing that, the general let Ndola vent a second or two longer hoping he'd cool off a bit. A few seconds later a natural pause in the conversion hit. Grazot used the opportunity to twist Ndola's own words against him. "Magistrate, did you not advise me not to be too concerned with …the masses? That in time they'll believe anything? My soldiers will accept any explanation I give them without question. They're good, loyal apes; all of them. We can tell them that this is the predecessor to a new experimental weapon being worked on. That it was brought here to be tested on any rogue humans that might crawl out of their cracks."

The general took out his flintlock pistol. He held it in his hand comparing it to the 9 mm and went on holding up each one as he made his point. "…This pistol here is no match for this one. That pumpkin shattered as easily as a child crushing an egg. Not only that, but it also cut through the wooden supports like they were paper. One musket ball might stop a human but one shot from this could remove an ape's head clear off his shoulder …and continue on to the soldier behind him. We might wound or kill one. However, they could double or even triple that in a single shot. …Magistrate, it has repeating capabilities, as well. It's also smokeless when fired. We have to stop and reload with each shot…And this is just a pistol. Their rifles could probably cut 50 apes in two before they even knew what happened. Who knows Magistrate, if their pistols penetrate wood, their rifles probably cut through stone."

"That is exactly why they must be stopped. No creature should command such unchecked power. You should not be flirting with it, General Grazot and you should not flaunt their machinery about giving credence to rumors. That's like sparking flint in a dry forest!" Ndola declared.

"Rumors…Are there Humans or are there not? That is the topic on every apes mind, isn't it? So why not give them their human, Magistrate?" Grazot stated plainly. "Show them the charred corpse. Remind them that we purged the disease once and can do it again. Give them a few dead humans and put this thing to rest".

For the first time in his life, Ndola was thinking that he may have underestimated the gorilla. His plan actually carried a level of credibility. He paused, regaining a little composure. Then scratching his chin, he said; "Give them their human, eh. That just might work. We could take one from the zoo and have it sent here. You could kill it and we can concoct any tale we wish. The humans entered the city at night looking for food. They set the black powder stores ablaze. Half the city caught fire… most were killed in the explosion that blew high into the sky... That's brilliant, General. It would explain the fire, the presence of humans, and even the flash of fire into the sky…all of it could be explained by killing a human and displaying its burnt carcass."

"I believe it would at that, Magistrate. We then claim that the detachment was sent to help restore civil and economic order and we discovered the human nest as we patrolled the area outside of Arum." Grazot added.

"Ok General, we'll hold off on your transition to corporal…for now." Ndola said in sarcasm. "I'll personally deliver the report to Sullen. If he agrees with our plan, I'll escort a human or two back here and we'll put our plan into effect."

'Our' plan, Grazot thought as held back a small grin. I pulled it off, after all.

"Now…" Ndola went on, shifting to the real issue at hand. "…the whole premise of this fairy-tale depends on finding these other humans, forcing them to reveal the whereabouts of their tribe and then exterminating them. And I mean ALL of them. We've sent and received messages from every settlement within the area. There have been no fugitive sightings …as we put it to them. They either drown in the Fish Pond, which is doubtful, or more likely, made it to one of the land masses within. While I'm gone, I need you to determine where the most likely place is that they may have landed. We'll need to secure a craft and volunteers…"

"A craft?" Grazot broken in. "You don't seriously suggest we attempt to traverse the Pond? That's guaranteed suicide. I will not …"

"You will not, what, General Grazot?" Ndola trumped in. "You're making it a habit of dictating directives to me. I sit on the Council, General. Has that fact escaped your mind? I am their mouthpiece, their delegate, not you. And I am particularly aware of the, coming threat, as you so colorfully put it. I've studied it, read their books, and peered into their blood stained history. I don't see it as a chance for power but as a pestilence. I will not let our great society fall into a pit of vipers. So you will find the land mass they escaped to, you will obtain a boat and you will have a squad of soldiers ready to leave when I return! And if you do not, general then I'll have Colonel Mikos replace you immediately. Am I clear on this General?"

"You are, Sir. I'll get on it at once, Magistrate" Grazot replied realizing it was now time to return to the happy subordinate.

"Good! Now, if you'll excuse me I have preparations to make." And with that, Ndola confiscated the 9 mm pistol and walked off towards his command post.

The chastising and threats from the Magistrate did not deter or fluster Grazot. He was a soldier and that meant both giving and taking orders. Sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow. It's just how it was. However, being a soldier also meant not letting the enemy dictate the terms of battle. He was going to find these humans alright but he was going to do it his way.

But how? No ape in his right mind would willingly negotiate the waters of the Pond. Working with it and in it was a two edged sword. The Great Fish Pond provided an abundant source of food; Food essential to the survival of the simian nation. But any Ape who was unlucky enough to fall into its cold clutch instantly sank to a dark, wet grave. However, there are those that would do anything for a price. Jobs on the Great Fish Pond paid well.

Apes who climbed in boats did not venture far and only negotiated the deep during emergencies. The apes had built a series of secure docks and primitive mechanical fishing apparatuses, using nets and fenced in hatcheries. Years earlier they tried to build ships and fish in the deep waters but too many deaths had occurred.

Grazot could order gorillas into a boat…and they'd do it too. However, all it would take is for one of them to panic and the whole lot of them could sink like a boulder. That was when an idea leaped into his head. The humans were isolated; Stuck out there in the middle of The Pond. If he could get to them he'd have all the time he needed. Ndola wouldn't dare follow him.

Grazot never had any intentions of killing the humans as the Magistrate ordered. Not immediately, anyway. He was going to capture them and their weapons. The human Smiths were going to teach him how to craft more. Their foot soldiers were going to teach his how to use them. Once that was done he would arm every gorilla in his command and declare martial law. He knew General Zuglanus thought as he did. Once he witnessed this power he'd be on board but Supreme General Narr might need some…persuading. He followed orders and did his job meticulously. He was no respecter of Ape. He'd served the campaigns that had untied the territories and when it came to tactics, the cost of lives, meant nothing to him; the end justified the means. But those were details that would be worked out later.

He needed dependable soldiers and a reliable boat. Finding an experienced ape to navigate the craft could be difficult but there had to be a few that maintained the Pond's hatcheries. Hopefully he could be bribed one into rowing out to sea.

He ordered his operations officer, Colonel Mikos to ride to the food dispensaries to the north with the instructions Ndola had given him. He then pulled out the leather territorial map, the intelligence reports, and set about to find where the humans could have escaped to. That night he retrieved the pistol from the Magistrate's 'locked' chest as his belongings were loaded on his wagon. He was going to need it once he found his new …Allies. He was sure that once the magistrate discovered it was gone, his career was going to take a sharp turn downward.

Kawaka City

Perfect Sullen scratched his head and looked his elderly friend directly in the eye. "…And you trust General Grazot then? He's never shown a lust for power. Of course he possesses quite a bit of it already."

"I think I've underestimated the General's tenacity. He's a leader of Apes and has proven himself to be quite capable, but I sense a lust for power from within. All of it sparked once he saw that pistol. The human disease is strong. I shutter to think what might happen if he ever learned to master those human tools. Any Ape with that kind of strength behind him could dominate our society with ease. And you should have seen the weapon, Sullen. It cut through its objective like a knife though butter…and the next object as well. …And the sound it made… It was ear shattering. I've seen the books, read the stories, looked at the pictures but to actually witness it personally was astonishing. Defeating them those many years ago was obviously an act of mercy from the great ape above." Ndola replied.

"However, his plan of providing a dead human for the people to gaze on would allow us to control the rumors. We could use it maneuver things in our favor." Ndola went on.

He poured himself a cup of tea and changed the subject, "…And what of the other campaigns? Have Generals Narr and Zuglanus reported anything unusual?"

"General Zuglanus returned from Kuo province a day ago. Things could not be more boring, which suits me fine. General Narr has been sent back to the ancient ruins with a full contingent at his command. He is under strict orders to stop …here…" the prefect said as he pointed to a spot on an old map he'd kept. "…From there he'll take a scouting platoon and go into these ruins. If they find so much as a patch of human fir fallen from its head he is to take the entire contingent and kill every human there; man, woman and child. He is to destroy their machinery and utterly burn their lair."

"This is getting messy old friend. Too many apes could become aware of things they should not." Ndola interjected.

"That is the enigma. We cannot allow our society to be poisoned with human influences, no matter how wondrously advantageous they may seem. Discreetly get your humans and return to Arum. If General Grazot survives his journey through the Fish Pond he is to return here without delay. But those humans must be forced to reveal their lair and then killed immediately" Prefect Sullen concluded.

"…Poisoned with human influences… haven't we been doing that for years, Sullen?" Ndola asked. "The musket, our use with metals, black powder, glass, even medicine. It's all from those books your grandfather brought. Yes, we have to defend ourselves but at what point do we cross a line we can never return from? We're even breeding and studying them."

"…As I said, my friend…an enigma." Sullen answered. "Come, I'll escort you home. Get some rest and you can head out in the morning."