Below the ruins of Buffalo, New York

The corridor went on for what seemed like forever. The space was cramped but that's because it hadn't been built with nine foot gorillas in mind. The more the Colonel and Lieutenant moved in, the less comfortable they felt. None of it was right. Light where there was no sun or fire, the cool comfortable temperature, even the material of the walls, floor and ceiling seemed unnatural.

It gave the primitive visitors the impression that it was almost alive. There was a faint sporadic hum in the walls. The gentle pulsing sounded like a heartbeat. A continuous series of flat metal plates joined together to form moving walkways where long distances existed. The surface was a combination of metal and rubber, providing traction, comfort, and stability. It was an odd sensation to the soldiers. The pristine conditioned walkways didn't even create a sound, as the heavy weight of the apes and their equipment was placed on them.

I should have asked to stay behind with the others, Gaius thought. The young gorilla had become a soldier for the pay and steady work. He had no aspirations of conquest or glory. Gaius was quite intelligent and equally as lazy. Ease and comfort; that was his motto. Soldiering was more of job than a service to the nation. It brought advantages and disadvantages but he was content with his salary and position.

He'd learned very soon that being a grunt didn't pull in much of an income. It also put him at the bottom of the food chain. So he'd leveraged his skills as an engineer to get himself placed as a munitions instructor with the rank of Technical Corporal and then requested training to become an officer. Less work and better pay, he figured.

Gaius had the reputation of being a confident straightforward ape. In reality it was more an attitude of not giving a damn. He didn't care who thought what. As long as he had his the world was fine. He was a good demolitionist. He loved working with gunpowder and it would probably kill him someday. Blowing up trees and knocking down rocks was simply 'fun' for him and why not get paid doing something you enjoy.

The only drawback was that the Lieutenant was a bit of a jokester. It had gotten him in trouble a few times and though he was never openly insubordinate he often flirted with the concept.

"I don't like this Prefect. I don't like it at all. I can't shake this uneasy feeling" Tyus said quietly. "This isn't right. It isn't natural. The apes who built this must have had the knowledge of the gods"

"I completely understand, Colonel. It shook me up too …the first time I was here." Sullen replied.

"The first time you were …here?" the puzzled ape officer answered with a confused expression.

"I'm not asking you to shake off your concerns but to simply make peace with them" Sullen responded as he looked back to address them both. "Listen to me. This is not magic. It is not witchcraft. It is not wisdom that fell from the great ape above. It's as I stated before; knowledge; knowledge long lost. Focus on the mission at hand and we will be out of here before you know it."

"He doesn't seem to be all that 'lost' with it" Lieutenant Gaius whispered to his superior accompanied by a mocking grin. The expression Tyus returned conveyed a clear message that his editorial comments weren't appreciated.

The Prefect took in the sarcasm with a deep breath as the weight of the mission made him feel fatigued. He'd kept the secret about humans his whole life and for the first time, he found himself questioning that strategy. For a moment he considered turning around and heading for home. No secret was worth more than the lives of his family; who were probably all dead. His problems were just beginning. Even if he captured and eventually killed those humans he still had a civil war to deal with.

"Yes Colonel, here." Sullen said as his mind snapped back to present. "It was about thirty four, thirty five, thirty six years ago. The exact number escapes me. Prefect Ollow, my father, brought me here. Ndola and some of the current Council were here too"

Sullen held up the device he'd been using and continued. "This mechanism gentleapes was constructed centuries ago by the inhabitants of this city or one like it anyway. An amazing gadget, is it not? …a box that speaks, that produces sounds and light… What's even more amazing is that the ones who built it were…" He paused briefly and then said "human."

Gaius laughed, in disbelief, as Colonel Tyus squinted wondering if he'd heard the right words come out the Lord Prefect's mouth. Lieutenant Gaius, however, stopped abruptly when he realized his leader was not joking.

"Yes …humans." Sullen said looking squarely at Gaius. "Humans who built all of this you see here. And who built the city above. And who eventually destroyed it all in their insane pursuit for …whatever. The ones that knew how this device functioned were captured after the great explosion just prior to our migration north. It predates the Purging that would soon follow. In exchange for their lives the humans demonstrated and explained its functionality. Once it was verified and tested those humans were executed. If set free they would have simply regrouped and caused even greater destruction."

The Prefect went on to explain his concerns regarding the current human threat. The conversation seemed to mirror the one he'd had weeks ago with his three Generals. The same questions were asked and the same answers given.

Gaius spoke up as the pieces in his mind started to fall in place "It would certainly explain why an esteemed ape such as Grazot would appear to throw his life away. He's just trading it in for what he considers to be an improvement. If you could control this … this …human knowledge, you'd be unstoppable. He obviously plans to use the humans in the same manner our founders did with that thing there" Gaius concluded by pointing at the device

"Do you see the danger, gentleapes? At the mere mention of these facts the poison begins to affect the mind with delusions of glory" The Prefect stated.

"Whoa Sir… I never said I wanted to join the General in his quest for godhood …" Gaius spoke up quite defensively.

"No one is accusing you of treason Lieutenant" Sullen replied. "At the rate our society is decaying, the General may end up simply ruling himself. And if I'm honest with myself, I'd have to admit that there may be advantages to tapping into this knowledge. If we'd been properly equipped we could have stopped this before it ever escalated beyond Arum."

A few minutes later the moving walkway slowed to a stop.

Please watch your step as you disembark a female sounding voice from nowhere said.

Western Conduit, Section G, Authorized Personnel Only beyond this point, Lieutenant Gaius read. The Prefect had them stop for a moment. He swiped the device against a dull black pad in the wall just shy of a large archway. It beeped softly as the ceiling panels above them began to retract.

Authentication accepted. Please step forward for security scan, the mechanical sounding voce ordered.

"Do exactly as you're instructed." Sullen stated bluntly.

An automated voice gave a series of instructions that the apes followed to the letter. They grudgingly removed all weapons and equipment, as the automated voice commanded. Next, the apes walked through the arch one at a time and slowly. It lit up with a bright blue white light. A hum, accompanied by a low buzzing sound could be heard as the light pulsed across their bodies.

Simian gene-o identified. Threat level; Moderate. Specimen cleared for testing. Secondary files opened. Executing data uplink

Once they were through the Arch they found themselves again walking down a long corridor. It ended at a, "T", forcing them right or left. An informational map with arrows pointing left or right was displayed on the center of the wall.

"Ape Testing Facility?" Gaius read aloud. "Humans operated on simians?"

"Something like that" The Prefect answered hoping it would satisfy the ape's curiosity.

Sullen browsed the list, found what he was looking for and mumbled, "Ok this way." As he pointed to the right

How much farther can it be? Lieutenant Gaius thought to himself as he noted that the Lord Prefect immediately going back to gazing at his mystical contraption as if his life depended on it. Gaius suddenly noted the expressions on the Lord Prefect's face. Something isn't right he thought.

The machine occasionally spoke which didn't help easy his already unsteady nerves. Finally after what seemed like weeks of walking the metallic halls, they stopped at a shiny square door.

Without warning a siren began to ring out. The lights went from white to red. The three apes turned their heads simultaneously as the sounds of distant gunfire caught their attention.

The ruins of Buffalo, New York

"We need to move faster, General. It's going to be dark soon" March said as they moved further into the ruins, towards the faint glow.

Frehber stated that he'd arrived just after nightfall and noticed a bright light peering out of the darkened city. He'd set out to investigate and was jumped by the mutated savages inhabiting the ancient metropolis. He killed several as he moved forward but noticed that the closer he got to the light source the less he was pursued. There was something the savages feared. He hoped it was simply an ignorant superstition.

"I'm moving as quickly as I can. Maybe you'd like to help carry the good Captain, a little." Grazot replied.

Minutes later they reached the entrance, if it could be called that. There was a huge fissure in the ground. Rubble and stone surround it. It led to a tunnel; a well lit tunnel.

Hayes peered down cautiously. "Wow that must drop at least a hundred yards, if not more. Maybe it's a subway, Tom, but I can't make out any tracks."

"And whatever's down there is still generating power" March added.

They rested for a moment and tended to the injured Group Captain who was recovering surprisingly well. March knotted a rope and instructed Hayes to secure it to something solid. Once they were ready they lowered themselves down and moved forward. They didn't get far before they all abruptly stopped.

"Well, I guess we know why the city inhabitants stay clear of the area." Hayes said as he looked at the skeletal corpses several feet ahead. "I'd suggest we don't move"

"And just what should we do? Stand here like idiots?" Captain Frehber said.

"You're welcome to step forward anytime you want, pal" Hayes shot back. "See that narrow passage ahead with that large box? Well that's most likely a security point of some kind and I'm guessing they don't kindly to trespassers. So please …why don't you waltz on up there and prove me wrong? For all we know there may be someone down here who doesn't want visitors."

The gorilla snarled. His first thought was to pick up the scrawny man and throw him down the passage. He stepped forward slightly but stopped when Grazot firmly tugged him back and instructed him to shut his mouth.

"What's the call, people …uh, I mean guys?" Hayes continued. "Maybe we should just head back."

"No" Grazot blurted out. "I didn't come this far to turn back at the sight of a few dead bodies"

"Sir?" Hayes asked looking at March

March sighed for a second as he thought things over. His curiosity wanted to push forward but his commonsense was telling him he was walking into a death trap. He raised his binoculars and slowly looked down the passage. He couldn't see any evidence of footprints in the dust and dirt. He adjusted his view slightly as he attempted to read the faded words on the just past the arch. "…Armory." He read out loud

"We're moving forward, slowly." March instructed "Jonny, you take point. I'll bring up the rear. The General and our new friend will cover the flanks…as cramped as they may be. Like I said, slow and easy. If we have to fire it isn't going to be fun; shells are going to ricochet in every direction. Ok, let's move…"

"Wait, I have an idea" Frehber interjected. "Look at the angle on the wounds of the victims. They were hit from above. Look at that one there..." the gorilla said as he pointed at the dusty corpse. "…It was obviously hit from two directions. My guess is that it came from there and there" Frehber finished as he pointed out two spots on the ceiling base just before the security station."

"So what's your plan?" March asked.

"Well it isn't to shoot our way through, that's for sure. I suggest that I lead followed by General Grazot. We'll use this debris for shielding. If anything shows itself we can take them out simultaneously."

By debris, Frehber was referring to an enormous piece of granite that had fallen when the tunnel collapsed. March had to admit that the idea sounded better than opening fire in the confined space. It also meant that they wouldn't have to arm the newest member of their quartet. Frehber was cooperating but March didn't trust the ape one bit.

Grazot suggested the possibility of using a grenade but abandoned the idea when March explained it would most likely take out the weapons and all of them in the process. The General persuaded the men to try the Group Captain's plan. The gorilla seemed to regard the Captain's opinions with a degree of professional respect and confidence. Frehber's suggestion was quite solid, in theory. He even had them set up a barricade, to fall back to, in case things didn't go quite as planned. The more the ape talked the more March agreed.

As the group stepped forward they were startled by an automated voice;

Please authenticate

…

Please authenticate

…

You have entered a secured area. You have twenty seconds to enter the authentication code or exit the area. At that point the voice began to count backwards from twenty.

"Ok, twenty seconds, make it count" March said.

Security alert … Western Conduit, Section H, unauthorized personnel … Initiating lockdown

The lights turned from a clear white to red. A high pitched alarm sounded as two clear plates that resembled glass began to lower. One, approximately five feet behind, and the other, just shy of the security arch. The ceiling opened and two mechanical devices that looked like small cannons lowered.

"NOW!" General Grazot shouted as the gorillas let their chunks of granite fly. Grazot hit the first gadget with such force that it snapped at the base. Sparks flew and lights flashed as wires fizzled to and fro. Hydraulic fluid sprayed the area briefly until finally the damaged pieces eventually fell silent. Huge unspent rounds spilled to the ground.

Unfortunately the Group Captain threw his projectile a moment too late. The fact that he was wounded didn't help his aim either. The automated gun fired and hit the boulder sending it slightly off its course. The impact damaged the maneuvering mechanism but the weapon still fired.

Bullets sprayed as the two humans dove for cover. March wailed in pain as one of the rounds ripped flesh from his thigh. Hayes was well concealed behind granite that had fallen to its side. Oddly, the shots did not ricochet as they hit the clear barriers. They made a dull thud as they impacted and dropped to the ground.

Grazot jumped up and bent the barrel as he attempted to get the weapon to fire on itself. The hot metal could be felt on the gorilla's paw, despite the fact he was wearing leather gloves. The massive weight of the gorilla loosened the already damaged weapon. It broke free and sent the General toppling downward. Grazot landed flat on his back as what was left of the device drove itself into his chest.

Weapon systems compromised. Secondary defenses coming online.

Click-click-click-click sounded off in rapid succession as small circular plates in the walls retracted, followed by a steady Hiiiiisssssssss

"Gas Johnny. We're being hit with gas." March said, instinctively covering his mouth with the sleeve of his filthy uniform.

March called out to Frehber instructing him to break the glass barrier but Frehber didn't answer. The ape was either dead or unconscious as March noticed he was lying face down on the floor.

March fell unconscious as the gorilla's features blended and swirled into a blurry red cloud of light.

Minutes later - Armory - Western Conduit, Section G

"Wake up, General!" Colonel Tyus said as he gave Grazot a shake.

The General wheezed slightly as his bruised chest begged for relief. He blinked his eyes and struggled once again to breathe. He took in as much air as he could in hopes it might clear his head. He was overly groggy, fatigued, and felt like he'd been sleeping for a week.

He didn't speak as he familiarized himself with the new surroundings. In front of him he saw; Major Tyus, who from the looks of the uniform, had obviously been promoted. There was also a gorilla lieutenant and the Lord Prefect. Tyus and the lieutenant held rifles that were pointed in his direction. But it was odd. They weren't muskets and they weren't anything like the rifles the two men carried. The weapons were a black metallic and about 1/3rd smaller than the repeating rifles he was used to. They had, what appeared to be, a standard barrel but directly underneath was something odd. General Grazot thought it looked like the light-sticks the humans used to illuminate the night darkness.

March and Hayes were standing just to his left with Frehber who was making claims that he was not affiliated with the traitorous rabble they'd just captured. Grazot was surprised to see that March's hit to the thigh was field dressed. That seemed more than strange to him. Why hadn't the Prefect simply killed us when he found us lying unconscious? The gorilla mused.

"Shut up Group Captain." Colonel Tyus said. "You're here to listen, not plead your case. This isn't a tribunal."

Tyus paused and turned to the Prefect. "Sir", he said, motioning for the ape leader to speak.

Sullen looked unemotional as he walked over to the group. He turned to March and grabbed the human by the throat. The Lord Prefect lifted the man high the air and grit his teeth.

"I'd like nothing more than to shoot and torture right here." The Prefect sneered. "You bastards have indirectly killed my family."

March grabbed at the orangutan's paw but the ape was too strong. He tried to speak but was only able to get out; a gahk, followed by; uhgk.

"Let him go." Hayes said as he drove his shoulder into the giant red-orange simian. Sullen hardly budged but loosened his grip on March and let him intentionally fall to the cold, hard floor. Before the Prefect could react Gaius fired at the human. The invisible pulse shot out from the lower barrel of the weapon. Hayes convulsed, lost all motor control and immediately dropped to the floor as if he were having a seizure.

"Amazing!" Gaius said. "He actually spoke."

"That's not the amazing part." Frehber interjected "It's getting him to shut up that's the trick"

Gaius laughed loudly at the joke and looked down at the weapon. "Well, this sure did the trick!" he concluded.

"Enough of the jesting!" The Prefect shouted. "We have a very serious problem on our hands!"

"It will pass in about thirty seconds, human. It's called a Cobalt Disruptor or at least that what my notes say it's called. It affects the nervous system. It's designed to incapacitate one's victim so that a kill-shot can be achieved easier. Quite an efficient design. Especially from a species whose greatest gift seems to be annihilation." Sullen said as he rolled Hayes over with his boot.

"What's going on Lord Prefect?" Grazot asked. "What is it that you want? You need something or we'd be dead"

"From you General, possibly your head, but for now that can wait. I need them", The Prefect answered pointing at the two men.

"Go screw yourself." March said, still rubbing his throat and shoulder. The Prefect's choke hold had aggravated his cauterized wound slightly. The stinging pain was making the man dizzy and lightheaded.

The Prefect nodded at Gaius who fired the disruptor, this time at March.

"We can do this all night for all I care. Like it or not we have a mutual threat that's risen and I need your help." Sullen said as he leaned down over the convulsing human.

After about 45 seconds March regained physical control, though he now felt nauseous and dizzy. Grazot protested next and also had the pleasure of experiencing the effects of a disrupted nervous system.

"I don't have the patience for this." Sullen yelled. "You're going to help me or I'll kill this one, right now. Colonel, hand me that weapon."

Sullen pointed the weapon at Hayes and stated his case again. March agreed to help but knew he was just putting off the inevitable. The Prefect explained that the device he possessed had locked up just prior to their discovery. He didn't know why it happened or how it happened but he did recognize the symbol frozen on the display. He didn't comprehend the full meaning but he knew it wasn't good. He held up the device and displayed the screen for all of them to see. Three yellow arrows formed a triangle. The center was red with black outlined letters spelling; NBC. There were digital numbers counting backwards; 46:08, 46:07, 46:06 ….

Next, Sullen rubbed the device with his thumb. The faint sound coming from the machine got steadily louder until; Incoming NBC attack, ETA, 45 minutes and 59 seconds could be clearly understood

"Do you know what it means?" Sullen asked the two men

"N, B, C …Nuclear, Biological, Chemical. That's what it means. We're as good as dead." Hayes answered immediately. "And whatever's coming is a million times more lethal than any musket or those weapons you have."

"Fix it." Sullen stated. "Fix it and I will let you walk out of here with your lives, weapons and with the traitor."

"However," The prefect continued. "I want your word General Grazot that I will never see your face again.

"Just like that Lord Prefect? We simply walk away. Do you take me for an idiot or something? The second these two, correct whatever it is that needs correcting, you'll kill us all." Grazot replied.

"No General" the Prefect answered solemnly "The damage is already done. The nation is in civil war. My family and yours are most likely dead. I'm taking what I can from this place and crushing that rebellion. We will then rebuild and arm ourselves appropriately. If there's a human threat we will be adequately prepared to meet it with equal might. You and these, these …men are no longer going to be my problem."

March trumped in with some conditions of his own. He stated that they'd do what they could but not until they were armed. If the Prefect was serious he could hardly reject the request. March stated that when things were equal they'd help. If not they could wait for that timer to hit zero and take their chances.

The Prefect ordered the two gorillas to lower their weapons. March picked up an M-103 and softly whispered "Ok Jonny you're on".

"Tom, this thing is years beyond anything I've seen …" Hayes mutter back

"Just do what you did on the island. …Oh and you have about a half an hour too." March answered

"Ok, Mister President, let me look at that thing." Hayes said as he reached for the device. The man couldn't shake the uneasiness that accompanied being so close to the massive animals.

Hayes fidgeted with the gadget for a few minutes. The Prefect offered suggestions but the old field manual was more helpful than anything else. After several minutes of reading pushing, reading more and fidgeting further, Hayes spoke up.

"You say your ancestor took this thing from a human?" Hayes asked not waiting for an answer "He was probably offered the same fantastic deal we were. Except he didn't quite believe you so he sabotaged the software. It's in some kind of loop. In essence, it's making the device sick."

"Can you heal it?" Sullen asked.

"I don't know …maybe. According this," Hayes went on as he held up the field manual and turned to March "If I'm figuring this correctly there's some kind of electronic files. Like Amie's diary, that I can access but it's …um"

"It's asking for what Jon?" March interrupted.

"It's um, asking for a DNA sample." Hayes answered. The Air Force Captain placed his thumb on a red blinking dot in the top corner of the minicomputer. He felt it twinge and then the piece of equipment spoke.

Human DNA 99 point 9999069 percent confirmed. File access granted the machine stated. A 3D Holo image of a man appeared. It startled everyone in the room including the two men. Hayes laid the computer on a metal box as the image spoke.

My name is Major Kyle Jennings, US Army Corps of Engineers. I am the US, Canadian Liaison for the North American Alliance, Sector Golf Tango Seven. Major General Robert Scott and his staff have been captured and or killed. …As have I and several others. Our Ape captors are demanding weapons and intelligence information in exchange for our lives but it's evident by their brutal tactics that we will all be dead soon. If you are viewing this then I am probably already dead, as this plan was our last-ditch effort.

We have succeeded in giving the apes what they believe they want. They have been given full access and training to what they think will ensure their safety. However the authentication codes and instructions are designed to link with the US Orbital Defense Net the moment they come within range of any satellite signal sensors. The false authentication will release a virus that will tap into the ODN (*Orbital Defense Net). Missiles from two orbital stations will fire and hone in on the device's wireless GPS relay signal.

The warheads contain a biological agent that is completely safe to humans and animals alike …and equally as lethal to simians. The missiles are programmed to airburst in a three hundred kilometer radius. Their effects will linger for months and work their way into the water system.

The image disappeared but everyone in the room got the messages as both parties raised their weapons at the other. The device sounded off with; Incoming NBC attack, ETA, 12 minutes and 30 seconds