Argos City, Sigma-One

"Here's your dinner, General. Hahahahah." The fat gorilla guard laughing said as he slid the bowl of stew through an opening at the cell's base. It smelled rancid and that's because it almost was. Most prisoners got nothing, which to Frehber, seemed like the better option.

They'd found the ape a day after he'd been chained and left to rot on that tree. Actually Frehber had found them. He'd cried out as the large militia passed by on its way to Argos. The Group Captain had been humiliated, disgraced and mocked. The officer in charge left him in the General's uniform once Frehber filled him in on the how he'd happened to be wearing it. The soldiers had gotten quite a good laugh at his expense. The officer stated if it was good enough for a traitor to wear it was also fitting for a miserable failure.

Frehber grinned as he picked the bowl up. "This smells a lot like your mother" He said tossing the putrid liquid at the guard. The moldy slop sprayed the back and neck of the oversized guard. "Now there's something to laugh about" The Group Captain laughingly added.

"You brazen little flea, I'm going to beat some respect into you." The guard sneered back in rage. He pulled out a wooden club and walked towards the cell. Unfortunately for the guard, that was exactly what Frehber wanted him to do. Once the robust gorilla was close enough, the Group Captain jumped up, grabbing the rafters with his upper two paws. With the lower two, he reached through the bars of the cell and grabbed the gorilla's uniform at the chest. He pulled him violently forward several times, slamming his chest, head and face into the iron bars until he felt the body go limp.

The battered ape fell to the ground unconscious. Frehber dropped to the floor and grabbed the key to his cell. He unlocked his door and dragged the guard inside. Hoping it might mislead anyone who passed by, he threw an old smelly blanket over his face. Frehber grabbed the club and headed down the hall in search of an exit.

He rounded the first corner only to find that he was now facing two more guards. They already had their clubs drawn and were running Frehber's way.

They must have heard all of that racket I made. Frehber thought.

"You there, stop!" The ape was answered by the Group Captain's club connecting with his head. Frehber followed up the first blow with three or four more, just to make sure the gorilla would stay down. The second guard swung his baton, connecting with Frehber's shoulder and then with his back. Pain shot through the ape's body as he returned the favor by thrusting the head of his club into the guards gut. He brought the club down again on the first guard who was awkwardly attempting to rise.

The guard, who was standing, winced a bit and said "Not bad, but you'll have to do bet…" Frehber didn't wait for the gorilla to finish. His training had taught him a lot of things. One was to strike at your opponent when he wasn't expecting it. Strike swiftly, strike decisively and strike hard. He swung at the guard's leg, smashing the wooden stick into his knee. There was a distinct 'crack' as the club collided with the bone. The guard bent forward in pain allowing Frehber to use his momentum and drive the gorilla's head into the floor. He choked the guard into unconsciousness and quickly moved forward.

He navigated through several other hallways until he finally reached a stairwell leading up to a closed door. On the other side of the exit sat three armed gorillas. One was sleeping as the others sat playing some kind of card game. Further examination of the surroundings revealed a window on the far wall and it was, conveniently, to the guard's back.

I can do this, Frehber thought to himself. The situation was very similar to training exercises he'd done dozens of times. Alas, he didn't get the chance. Just as Frehber was moving the door forward a loud bell began to sound.

"They found the guards", he mumbled as he swung the door open jumped on top of the guard who was shaking his comrade awake. Frehber used his thrust to slam into the soldier and send him toppling into the others. Before they could react he jumped out the window and grabbed the nearest tree. However, instead of dropping to the ground and heading for the wall he climbed high and leapt on to the roof.

The Group Captain remained there all evening, doing his best to ignore the miserable cold, as the rain fell, on and off. Soldiers and patrols went in and out, back and forth, searching for the escaped prisoner. The precipitation covered any tracks that gorilla might have made as he escaped. Finally, after what seemed like forever, the garrison soldier's stopped looking, convinced that he was long gone.

From where Frehber was perched he could hear most of what was being said below. It was a popular activity called: The blame-game. It finally ended with an order being issued by some officer he could only guess was the; ape-in-charge. "Dispatch a message to Sigma-Twelve. Tell them the prisoner was shot while attempting to escape and that we've burned the body. If that fool wants to take his chances in that poison out there, then let him."

Frehber shook his head wondering where integrity had fled to. He waited another hour or so and once things had quieted down, he dropped to the ground, scanning the area as he thought through his next move. He quickly ducked behind a wall as a passing patrol strolled by. Once they were out of sight he sized up the situation.

There were two towers housing one gorilla each and a gate guard at their base. The guard at the gate was huddled in small hut, if you could call it that, trying to stay dry. One of the guards in the leftmost tower looked like he was asleep, while the other casually paced around in boredom, yawning.

Frehber slowly scalded the tower on the right. He was thankful that the rain was helping to muffle his sounds as he climbed. I'm going to have to do this just right. I won't get a second chance, he surmised.

Once he was on top he slipped in and pulled the gorilla into a headlock. He covered the ape's mouth with his opposite paw and Frehber squeezed until the primate fell unconscious. The Group Captain used rope and supplies in the apes field pack to quickly bind and gag him.

He slipped down and disabled the ape at the gate in a very similar fashion. Next, he casually made his way to a stable, peering in quietly verifying that he was alone. Once he was certain, he saddled a horse, grabbed some provisions and nonchalantly walked the steed out of the gate and into the Banned Territories. After he was out a few hundred feet out, he climbed on the horse and rode off in search of Grazot and his pets.

The ruins of Buffalo, New York

General Grazot and the men seemed to be making good time. And Grazot was glad to finally be past the bad weather. The sky was overcast but the rain had stopped. That was beneficial as it kept most of summer heat from beating down like an angry task-master. But Grazot was mostly grateful for the bridge that was still intact. The thought of crossing through water again made him feel quite uneasy.

They'd gotten through the net with relative ease, thanks to Group Captain Frehber, and his written orders. Grazot had even been able to acquire three horses and some much needed rations, as well. There were no signs that they were being followed and the General was glad to finally be beyond his boarders.

The ape gazed at the ruins with wonder. Whatever this place was now, it had at one time been a huge city; larger than any ape city in his country, bay far. Most of it was rubble but several buildings still stood tall, or relatively so, far off in the distance. A few looked like they reached to the clouds.

"Look at it Tom. It looks like something out of the apocalypse…By the way, welcome home; we're in the good 'ole USA." Hayes said as he held up the field pad.

"Home…" March answered somberly "If DC is like this we may end up calling this rock our home."

"Someone must have survived … somewhere," Hayes said. Although he had a hard time actually believing it.

The trio rode down a path that at one time was probably a highway or main route of travel. They skirted large chunks of stone and concrete as Grazot asked a barrage of questions; assuming the two men knew every detail about the leveled city. They didn't have a lot of answers but were able to explain that the large body of water to their southwest was actually a lake, not an ocean, as he thought it was.

"What do you think, Sir? Should we check it out? Maybe there's a library or armory someplace. There possibly might even be people here. If we're lucky maybe we'll find something similar to that radar display back on the island." Hayes asked.

"Some of those buildings look relatively intact but they're a good ways away and there's dirt and rubble everywhere. We'll eventually have to leave these horses and go forward on foot" March answered.

"Suits me fine, I'm still not used to riding this thing and I'm getting blisters in places I'd rather not mention. What do you say we find a used car lot and trade these things in for a '64 corvette?" Hayes chuckled.

As the three outlaws made their way closer and closer into the city, their horses flinched and neighed nervously.

"We're not alone. Ready your weapons. …Right now!" Grazot said as he drew his out his flintlock.

"How can you tell?" March asked as he removed the M103 from his shoulder and switched the off the safety. There was something in the way Grazot said; Right Now that made the Major believe he knew exactly what he was talking about.

"The horses …trust me I speak from experience. Someone or some kind of animal is close by." Grazot replied as he patted the mount on its neck in an attempt to sooth its anxieties.

"He's right Tom. Something just moved over there." Hayes said pointing at a half crumbled structure.

In the blink of an eye several dozen figures emerged from behind rocks and crumbled buildings. They charged at the three like an angry mob. Some were human and others were a variety of ape, similar to chimps but very savage looking. They were almost naked and looked like some kind of prehistoric flock of cave dwellers, with ratty looking hair and mangy beards. The group was growling and shouting something about killing and eating but it was primitive, broken English. They were armed with rocks and sticks.

Grazot aimed his pistol and fired into the group as a rock bounced off his massive form. He hit one of the lead rushers in the stomach. The ape dropped the weapon and drew his dagger but never had a chance to use it. The sound of automatic weapons fire made everyone jump and Hayes almost fell from his hoses as it leapt up in fright.

The rushing horde was abruptly cut asunder. Bodies flew apart, while others simply dropped lifelessly to the ground or slammed into the rock-strewn debris. Screams and cries replaced the roaring and shouting. Grazot gazed on in awe. One weapon had just cut down what had to be eighty … he struggled for the word settling on … attackers. Some were human but others were simian.

As quickly as they'd emerged the ones that could, scurried back into wherever it was they'd crawled out from. March dismounted and walked forward to one of the fatally wounded. It was a human male who looked to be no more than thirteen. The bleeding individual reached up and gasped out "ee-aate …f-oh-dah". March's brain interoperated the words just as a parent does when a toddler speaks; eat and food …He's hungry!

Hayes, who had also dismounted said; "His eyes… He looks retarded, Tom …almost insane." The astronaut dropped a piece of dried beef. The wounded man snatched it up and shoved it in his mouth. He died before he could even bite into it. The few who'd fled showed themselves again but seemed to possess enough intelligence to stop when March lifted his rifle and pointed in their direction.

"That's an ape!" Grazot said, pointing at one of the emerged figures. She was making a similar garbled plea for food. They all were.

"Let's get out of here, Sir. I feel like I'm in a zombie movie. Who knows how many more are out there" Hayes pleaded.

Deep within, March was in agreement but he was also very curious to peer into a city that was six hundred years in the future, even if 80% of it was in ruin. There could be something of value and the Major didn't want to pass it up because of a few mutated cavemen.

"Keep that rifle ready Jonny." March ordered as he slung his rifle over his shoulder and grabbed a pair of binoculars.

March peered though at the buildings in the distance. Nothing particular caught his eye. He concluded that Hayes was right. Even if they ventured forward they'd have to leave the horses. Once they did that, the animals were as good as cannibalized. He placed the binos back in their case and tossed some food towards the survivors in the opposite direction. He mounted his horse and began to speak as a musket ball cracked past. It spooked his horse who threw him off in a panic. March hit the ground with a thud as he smacked the back of his head into the concrete. The mutated apes and humans who were tearing into the food panicked and scattered in every direction.

"Don't move or the next shot won't be a near miss" a voice shouted.

Hayes scanned the area trying to determine where the gun fire and shout had originated. He reached casually for a grenade but stopped when the invisible gunmen spoke up again. "I said don't move and that means everyone. So help me I'll shoot you if I have to! Lay down your weapons and dismount"

Grazot and Hayes did as they were instructed. The sniper gave them a few more instructions and then stepped out into the open. It was Group Captain Frehber.

The Banned Territories – Formerly Hamilton ON, Canada

General Mikos peered through the eyepiece at the landscape beyond. He pondered within as he scanned the various remnants and scattered wreckage. There wasn't a lot of it but there was enough to suggest that a large city occupied the area at one time. He handed the primitive spyglass to Tyus and asked; "What do you think Colonel? Did they move east or southeast?"

"It's hard to say Sir. We don't really know where their final destination is. However, according to the intelligence the Lord Prefect provided, we do have vague idea. Given that, my instincts say they headed southeast. If this weather keeps up we'll be able to pick up their tracks eventually." Tyus answered.

"Sir, if I may; what is this place? Who and where are the apes who built it?" Tyus inquired changing the subject.

"I don't know, Tyus. But it's obvious that they're all dead. This whole place was poisoned long ago. Nothing can survive out here for an extended period of time. The sooner we accomplish our mission and get back home the happier I'll be. Supreme General Narr and his entire Contingent never returned. They're probably rotting away in some toxic mess. This place isn't fit for Ape or beast." Mikos answered.

The two gorillas turned their attention back to the matter at hand. Tyus ordered scouting parties to ride east and south in an attempt to pick up Grazot's trail. Sullen had given strict orders that they were to avoid any of the ruins. He was still preaching his scare tactics about the area being completely contaminated.

The scouting units returned a few hours later. "Sir, we picked up their trail about three miles to the south." Captain Sulabon reported. "They're about eighteen to twenty hours ahead of us. However there's a second trail of one rider who headed in he same direction."

"Colonel, give the order to break down camp and tell everyone to prepare to move out within the hour." General Mikos ordered.

Mikos made his report to Sullen, filling him in on the information he'd just received. The Prefect walked over to the map he had laid out and traced his fingers southeast.

He shook his head as he said "We missed them. They've already passed through."

"They could be traveling at night." Mikos replied not realizing that, that was exactly what they'd been doing. The General and his posse still possessed two sets of NVG and they were taking advantage of the fact.

Sullen grit his teeth as he realized he'd lost yet another opportunity. He sent General Mikos out on some useless errand and unlocked a chest. He pulled out an odd looking mechanism and said "May the great ape above help me but I've no choice. This has to end now."