Planet of the Apes: Broken Chain

Ch.3 Civilization?

Pov: Robert

After that unidentified object fell out of the sky, we kept quiet. We were not far from the border according to Drek, and we didn't need anything to go wrong for this to work.

And for the first time, I was starting to see some plant life. Grass and a few weeds of the sort. And as we passed by one hill, I saw a forest of sorts on the horizon. It looked like the kind of woods I would see back in Indiana, only I knew it wasn't.

"There it is, we finally made it. Keep it moving human."

The big ape gave a firm tug on the ropes around me.

That was a signal that we were now being watched. It was show time.

I made my movements a little sporadic, mindless. At the same time I was careful not to oversell it.

After a minute of walking, a group of apes formed up in front of us, some coming from some rock structures on the side. In the center of this group was a massive gorilla. He was a little bigger than Drek, and had adorned his head with a fancier helmet.

"Drek! You're a day late! Where's the rest of your patrol and your- Your arm!"

The soldiers around the gorilla gasped at the sight.

"Brother, we have much to talk about besides my arm."

As I was listening, Malek gave me a jab to my back. Another signal we came up with.

If I was showing any signs of intelligence or showed that I was listening too well, they would do that. It just so happens that Malek did it just in time.

"And what about the humans you were to hunt? Did you bring this one back for sport?"

"No, we brought it back for study."

The general laughed,

"I thought you hated the thought of being around them. Filthy to the touch."

"Again, I am happy to explain it if you'll let me."

"Alright, let's hear it."

Drek wasted no time.

"The Ravagers have returned."

All of the soldiers stopped at the news.

"Come again?"

Drek moved closer to his brother.

"What I am saying is true, they have returned in numbers. They wiped out the patrol and tore off my arm."

"I don't believe it. How did you survive?"

"Malek saved me with quick thinking. He killed the creature attacking me and tended my wound. As for the rest of the monsters, they ran off with their prey."

The gorilla seemed to look at his son giving a firm nod.

"And do you have any proof of this kill?"

"Malek?"

Malek walked forward with the claws I had pulled from the monster. His father took them and examined them closely.

"They look fresh, we'll need to report this to the council immediately. Kill the human and let's go."

Wow! That was quick!

I closed my eyes as one of the soldiers took aim. But the rush of footsteps made me open them. Drek let go of the rope that held me and grabbed the gun from the soldier.

"No! We're taking him to the lab."

The others were put off by this, with the one in charge asking.

"On whose authority?"

While this was happening, Malek rushed for the rope with me still playing dumb.

"Brother, you need to see the bigger picture. We found this one a day's journey out into the forbidden zone. He isn't like the escapees, he is well fed and in good health. Imagine how he could keep alive out there?"

The big ape was now listening a little better.

"What are you suggesting?"

Drek reached out for the rope in Malek's hand and pulled me forward.

"He may well lead us to a human colony. And where there is a colony, there is food. We get the chimps to trick this human to lead us to them and we take it all."

Drek's brother did nothing for a moment, making me concerned that he wouldn't buy it. After a few seconds a burst of laughter quelled my fears. Malek's father bought the excuse.

"Now you're thinking like a real Gorilla! We have no time to lose, let's go."

With a tug, Drek led me along the way towards civilization.

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Civilization?

We had made it. After two hours of passing through the forest, we were at the edge of the city.

Suffice to say I wasn't that impressed. It was more like an urban city and the architecture was very prehistoric looking. Only the remembrance of the rifles around me kept me from saying anything out loud about it.

Upon the trail, we passed a cart leaving with a couple of what I assumed were chimpanzees riding in front. They were smaller than the gorillas, but had similar stature. After passing a few buildings, we were in what I assumed was the city square. It held a few vendors selling fruit and vegetables to anyone they could. Garnering the attention of everyone, Chimps, Gorillas, and…

Orangutans?

I watched as families went out and about with their children. Some pointed to our group, and one shouted aloud, "Look! Is General Ursus's patrol! They're back!"

Well, I got a name for him now…

"Keep back! We got a human with us. Wouldn't want any of you to catch anything from him."

At the mere mention of my presence, the apes around us stared venomously at me. To the better which part I ingnored as I was still playing the dumb animal. Eventually they stopped standing in front of us to let us by to resume our trek while my mind drifted in thought.

Man, this is annoying. I really don't like not talking when I got something to say. But I can't until I know we're alone.

As we passed up the square, I saw on the side a caged dome. Inside was a horrible sight that made me almost want to blow my cover. The dome contained Humans in rags looking rather skinny. All of them were covered in filth and unkempt hair that gave off the caveman aesthetics that I took this city for. Guards were around its perimeter, not sparing a moment to look at them. Some humans were wandering underneath the cage while I noticed one little girl who was standing still, looking distraught. The pieces came together that her parents weren't in there with her, and most likely they were dead.

My head turned in shame knowing there was nothing I could do that wouldn't get me killed right then and there.

Then a group of apes came our way, only they seemed to hold some form of authority on how they approached the general. All three of them were orangutans.

"General Ursus! I trust you have found the rest of the patrol looking for the humans? You seemed to have recovered one."

"Yes Dr. Zaius. But I'll let my brother tell you what happened."

"Very well, what happened?"

Drek moved up to the doctor. The first thing he noticed is his missing arm. His eyes widened as Drek announced what happened.

"I will tell you what I told the general here… We were wiped out by the Ravagers."

All three of the apes were shocked by the news, although the doctor reacted the least to the info.

"Am I to assume that is what happens to your arm?"

"Yes. But there's more."

"Yes?"

"We have come across a new variant."

The doctors and the soldiers squirm at this new revelation Ursus walked forward and put a firm hand on his brother.

"You didn't tell me that at the border!"

"I didn't want to have to repeat myself too many times. And you know now."

"Please, Simians! Now I suppose you have proof beside your missing arm for both the Ravagers and this 'new' variant."

Drek signaled Malek to open the bag. Out of it came the Claws they showed off before and a wrapped up package. Malek rushed to take the cloth off of it to reveal the long black leg, making sure to show the talons on it.

Everyone beside the three of us who had seen it and the doctor gasped at the sight.

Questions soon poured out of everyone's mouths.

"What did it look like?"

"Was it Big?"

"Did you kill it Drek?"

Zaius stopped the bickering right then and there, "Enough, let him speak."

Drek did just that, and like we planned.

"Malek here was the one who saved me, and killed the creature it belonged to. He can tell you what it looked like."

The orangutan stroked his chin hairs, "Perhaps we should discuss this more in my office, from less prying ears. Have the rest of the apes take that one to the cage like the rest of them."

Drek was about to say something when Malek spoke first, "There is something about that, Doctor."

All eyes were on him, which clearly made him uncomfortable.

"Oh?"

"This human wasn't one of the escapees."

The ape wasn't buying it, as he shook his head.

"They all look the same to me."

"Well sir, he's better fed. And he has a different hair color than the rest, it's red."

Correction, my beard is red. But I don't care as long as that doctor believes it.

"I see. And why should that dictate anything? He's a human, and all humans go straight to the cage before anything is decided of them."

Before Malek could finish, Drek intervened this time.

"If they are a new breed, then they are in the hands of the lab."

This only confused the ape more, "Why do you care about where he goes?"

"He was way out there in the Forbidden Zone, far from ape city. That human had to have survived out there in some way. Perhaps it could lead us to a new source of food, or a colony of other humans."

His head stopped wagging and for the first time he looked at me intently. I looked down quickly in case he knew something was up. Another reason would be that I hated looking people in the eye in general.

"I see, I suppose if you believe that to be the case then do it. I am more interested in this new threat to our people."

And so the other soldier and I were split up from Dr. Zaius and my only two allies.

Not part of the plan.

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These apes were not as merciful as Malek or Drek were. Pulling at my rope each chance they got for the sole purpose of aggravating me. But it wouldn't work, my life was on the line. Literally.

I was now being led down a set of stairs by two of the gorillas into a lower level of what I assumed was the lab. In the lab were cages along some walls that were occupied by humans.

"Dr Zira?"

Whoever that was, nobody answered.

"She must be at the cages again looking for specimens."

"Why do they even bother with those creatures, it's better to put those animals in their place and be done with it."

"Can I help you?"

The soldiers turned to the new voice and I followed suit to see a chimpanzee in a lab coat.

"We're under orders to bring this to Dr. Zira, apparently its is a rare variant."

The chimp walked up and reached to my face, making sure to avoid my mouth.

"Hmm, he does have a reddish skin color. Along with some of his hair. Let me clear a cage for him, in the meantime get that leash over there."

Humiliation is a funny thing, it brings one lower than one believes. The only difference was I expected this. They wouldn't have me yet, not while I had hope.

A thick leather collar was fastened around my neck, of course they made it as tight as possible. As long as I didn't resist, then it wouldn't be made worse than it was.

After they hooked the leash, the chimp took a moment to look at me.

"Huh."

Huh?

"What is it?"

"This is normally a fuss to get these on, where did you get this one?"

"He was found wandering the forbidden zone by the general's brother. Seemed real defensive about him. Something about using him to find a new food supply."

The lab coat chimp shook his head and took the leash from the soldiers, "In that case, Dr. Zira would be their best bet. But she is on an emergency call about a disturbance in a nearby village and won't be back till tonight. But I'll go ahead and take care of the paperwork, you should be free to go."

My guards wasted no time and were gone while I was led to my new abode. Suffice to say, it was just a pile of hay. Mr. Lab Coat tied me to the outside of it and started scribbling on a nearby clipboard whilst talking to himself.

"Lets see, red Hair, male …"

He glanced at my face again, looking me in the eye.

"Grayish eyes… Hmmm, now that I have a better look, your skin just had some burns. Must be a cave dweller to avoid the sun that much."

Oof.

The ape got up from his spot and brought over a primitive looking scale. He took the leash and led me onto it to check my weight.

"Hmm, a little light for your height. 170 pounds."

No duh, I was out in the wild with nothing but dried berries to eat. For the last couple of days

Of course the ape couldn't read minds, and reached over to some measuring tape while letting it roll out to stop at the ground next to me.

"6 Feet and an inch. And you appear to be a young adult, around twenty years old."

Twenty three.

"Hmm, and what to name you? Knowing Doctor Zira, she will name you after your most unique trait, Red."

Great.

He sighed as he went back over to the paperwork and wrote for a few minutes.

"This is probably the fastest I have ever filled out this, your kind is always a hassle. If I don't know any better, I'd say you're actually not wild and some sort of runaway pet."

Mmm, not the impression I was going for. But that shouldn't be too bad.

"Probably means you've been fixed."

… breath…

As if that wasn't enough the chimp got up and tried to pull up my rags to check. I tried to pull away but the leash wouldn't let me go too far. He seemed confused as to why I would move away before he did anything serious.

"Huh… that's odd, that's the first sign of trouble you gave me. Almost… Nah. And I think I'll let the doctor check that out."

He was unconcerned as he went to finish my file.

Air in my lungs escaped as I avoided that embarrassment for now.

"There! All done. Now let's get you to your home."

I mentally shook my head.

Yeah, I wouldn't miss the hay for the world.

And so there I was led, in the cage all alone. Back against the wall, and nothing to do. The assistant was busy at his desk. Paying no mind to my troubles. After what felt like some time, a couple of other chimps came in seeking the assistant.

"We're bringing the humans back in for the day."

"Alright Eustis, we got a new one here too. Make sure not to put too many in there with him or else it could set it off."

"Right, right."

I sat up in apprehension being introduced to the new humans being led in.

This was definitely not part of the plan! Malek was supposed to be the one to bring me here and suggest a separate cage to increase my chances of survival! This is not a worst case by a long shot, but this is an unknown. Who knows how they would react to something foreign to them, and in a cage with it!

Muscles clenched as they were led in. Ready for any sudden movement. Three of them, each of them caveman as you could get. Long hair, and unkempt beards. All of them had the eyes of emptiness, no thought or individually. They were the same, slaves to the system here. Even though they appeared uncaring of their imprisonment, there did seem to be curiosity as they approached me. Looking at my stance and looking at me.

Then one of them came up and poked me across my right cheek while feeling the bristle of my moderately trimmed beard.

I did nothing as immediately my cell mates lost interest and started to lay out in the hay by themselves. Our ape watchers were satisfied with the results and walked off.

I sat back down in my spot as sleep returned to me. Trying my best to endure the bizarre happenings the last couple of days.

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I couldn't remember my dream, it was neither good nor bad. No, what really stood out was what woke me up. The sound of a door and rushing feet.

My sight returned to me as I saw the room was darkened with dim lights about the room.

It's night…

Was all I thought as I listened more, it was all I could do in my current situation.

"Over here Doctor?"

It was the assistant from before, only he was whispering as to not wake us up.

Fail.

A new voice entered in the conversation all hushed as well. "Yes! We don't want to startle her with too many new faces just yet. It's unlikely we can ever catch a find like her again! Go ahead and get me the forms to fill out for her."

That must be the doctor everyone is talking about. Sure sounds cheerful.

"They're already on your desk. And I took the liberty of filling out most of one from that other human today, all that's left is blood tests and your signature."

"Oh! Which one is it?"

"The one in the back against the wall."

I closed my eyes quickly, only having one eyelid cracked by a hair. Just enough to get a good look at my new doctor. She was a chimp, smaller than the assistant but seemed to hold herself carefree. Much like the tone in her voice.

"Have you given him a name yet?"

The assistant grabbed my file from the desk and put it in her hand. She glanced at the top and smiled, "It's a perfect name."

"Thank you doctor."

"Well Red, I don't know where you came from. But I hope you can enjoy your stay just as much as our other arrival. She's a variant like you… Well not like you. But you'll see tomorrow."

I hope not like me, wouldn't want another person like me in this situation.

I ignored whatever else happened after that point and drifted off longing for home.

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End Chapter

A/N: Enjoy the Holiday weekend!