The next chapter is posted! Enjoy :)
The day spent with the family started to draw into the late evening.
They knew Yalu and Ann would be leaving soon to return home. But before they did, Yalu wanted to stop by the prefect's quarters and talk to Barlow.
If not just to see a very old friend again but convince him to let them take Urko's records back to the council.
Kristin and Ann were still situated on the couch chatting. Ann had baby Lily tucked into her arms, who was fast asleep after another feeding from her mother just minutes earlier.
Alan and Pete were chilling in the comfy chairs across from the couch. While Galen and his father stood by, still chatting a little. Going over how they should speak to Barlow about the records and accounts.
"I think, this is something we should talk about with Alan and Pete. They can even come with us, help us convince Barlow." Galen suggested.
Yalu was silent for a moment as he thought about it.
"I suppose." He replied.
Galen then went over to his friends.
"May I speak with you two? It's very important." Galen informed them.
"Sure, everything ok?" Pete asks.
"Yes, just something important to speak about with you two. Something my father and I have been talking of doing." Galen stated.
He then gestured for them to come back with him. The two men got up and followed their friend.
They met up with Yalu in the kitchen, and they all sat down at the table and started to talk. Galen wanted to bring Alan and Pete up to speed about what he and his father had been talking about for the better part of the last couple hours.
"Remember, I told you two about those records on Urko that Barlow has?" Galen reminded them.
"Yeah, what about them?" Alan asked.
"I would like to see these records, and possibly ask Barlow if I can take them with me back to the council. It's obvious that what is in those records are very serious and must be addressed." Yalu stated.
The two men shared a look before shifting their attention back to the two apes sitting across from them.
"You believe the council will be willing to hear you out though? From what we've seen, Urko seems to be held in favor of most of them." Alan pointed out.
Yalu shook his head, "That's not entirely true. The council hasn't been all that happy with his latest actions. It seems as though there has been a lot of insubordination coming from him. Even cases where he had been acting independently of the council more so than usual as of late. And the council doesn't like it."
"Even so, are any of those records serious enough to question him?" Pete asked.
Yalu and Galen shared a look.
"I think you should tell them about Fairbanks, son." Yalu stated, in a grim tone.
"Fairbanks, what's that?" Pete inquired.
Galen sighed, "What I'm about to tell you, doesn't leave this table. I don't want Kristin or mother to know. Understood?"
"Understood." Alan replied.
Galen started from the beginning and told them everything that occurred at the ill-fated village ten years prior. All the way from another group of astronauts passing through there to what happened there afterwards.
The two men had shocked looks on their faces as Galen told them of the orchestrated slaughter ordered by Urko himself. That shock quickly turned to disgust and anger.
"And you let a cold and sadistic murderer like that be your chief of security?" Pete spat.
"They didn't know, Pete. Urko fabricated a story about the massacre being carried out by a savage group of humans passing through, and they bought into it because they didn't believe he'd lie to them." Alan told him.
"It's a very serious offense, he broke ape law slaughtering all those innocent men, women, and children, and if any of his men refused or tried to intervene, he had them killed too.
We are all also aware of what he tried to pull back in the village of Tryon a few months back. How he acted independently of the council and went there with troops to burn it down himself.
He's clearly targeting innocents that have done nothing wrong nor broke any laws. It's clear, he's doing as he pleases and either threatening or killing those that get in his way, including other apes.
We cannot have individuals like that free to roam about our society. It's clear, he needs to be tried for these acts, along with the list of other acts he has done over the years." Yalu explained to them.
"When are you looking to go speak to Barlow and try and get ahold of these records?" Alan asked.
"I was looking to go before we leave her today." Yalu replied.
"And we would like for you two to come with us when we go see him. If not to help us convince him. After all, you are witnesses to many of these acts yourself. Just as Kristin and I are." Galen said.
"I would also like to speak with some of these former guards that have witnessed some of these more serious crimes over the years. They could come forward and testify these accounts to the council." Yalu told them.
"Do we know any of their names though?" Pete asked.
"When an account or record is made by the witness, they must sign their name at the bottom of the written account." Yalu informed them.
"Wouldn't they be too afraid to come forward though?" Pete inquired.
"Not if they all come in together to testify in front of the council. Urko won't have any power in there to do anything. They would be safe and there would be no retaliation or backlash." Yalu answered.
"Though I can only wonder why Barlow had kept them all these years instead of bringing them to the council long ago." Yalu pondered.
"Because he told me he wanted to collect everything, so that there was enough against Urko. Seeing as he is a very powerful influence over the council and many standing members, he will need all the evidence he can get. Which would be a lot." Galen said.
"I suppose that makes sense. But...I think it is time to bring this all to light. Before any more innocent apes and humans die." Yalu told them.
Alan appeared deep in thought as he and Pete took everything in.
"I think we should inquire with Barlow if any other prefects in the area have any detailed accounts or records on him. Surely, they must've seen or know something Urko did that would call his character into question." Alan surmised.
"Yeah, others in higher positions must know something." Pete agreed.
"And if there are, Barlow would know. A lot of the prefects collaborate and communicate with each other regularly around these parts." Galen added.
"This is true, and certainly something to look into. If any of them do have any detailed records or accounts, we can collect them and add them to the large number of records you say Barlow already has." Yalu informed them.
"Well, we're ready to walk over whenever you two are if that's the case." Pete said.
"I agree, let me just tell Kristin and mother we need to talk to Barlow and to sit tight here." Galen replied.
With that, the four men got up from the kitchen table and entered the living room.
Galen approached his mother and Kristin who were still chatting on the couch. Kristin saw him walking over and paused their conversation.
"Hey, everything good?" She asks.
He gives her a small smile.
"Everything is fine. But father, Alan, Pete, and I need to speak with Barlow about something important. We will be back soon though." Galen assured her.
Kristin wondered what could be so important that they had to go now with his parents visiting. But if it was something that needed to be discussed, then that was fine.
"Ok, I guess we'll see you all in a little bit then." Kristin said.
"Is it really so important that it can't wait a little longer?" His mother inquired, as she rocked baby Lily in her arms.
"Yes, mother. It is something of great importance. But as I said, we'll try not to be too long." Galen informed her.
His mother was silent for a moment, then nodded.
Galen shifted his gaze to Kristin. He took a couple steps closer, closing the gap between them. He knelt down and pressed a small kiss toy her lips. She returned the brief kiss.
"We'll be back soon." He reminded her.
Kristin nodded. Then Galen reached over and caressed his infant daughter's little cheek.
He then turned to meet up with the other three, who were waiting for him by the door.
"See you in a little bit, guys. We'll be back." Pete said on the way out.
"Later." Kristin said.
"Goodbye." Ann replied.
Then the four men left the home and started down the dirt path towards the prefect's quarters.
"What do you think it is they wish to talk to Barlow about?" Kristin asked Ann.
"Not sure, though it could be my husband wishes to catch up with him. We were all old friends that grew up together back in Central City. But then Barlow and his family moved to another village when we were all around ten years old." Ann told her.
Kristin's eyes widened briefly, "Really? Didn't know you and Yalu knew Barlow that well of for that long."
"Oh yes, he was a great friend and fellow classmate. Though he was a rather shy and reserved child then. But we still all played together and all of our parents knew each other and were friends." Ann said.
While they continued chatting at home, Galen, Alan, Pete, and Yalu were on their way to see Barlow.
The sun was touching the horizon now as it drew closer to dusk. A few apes that were about nodded at them in a brief hello, recognizing councilman Yalu. He nodded politely back to them in passing.
As they drew closer to Barlow's quarters, one of the gorilla guards spotted them and casually walked towards them.
"Councilman Yalu, I heard you were in town. Good to see you, Sir." The gorilla guard said.
"Luka, good to see you, my friend. Didn't know you transferred post and came to Kaymac." Yalu stated, with a small smile.
"Transferred last year. I like the post here much better than the last one. It's a rather nice village." Luka replied.
"Good, good. I do have a question though. Do you know if Barlow is in his office at this time? He is a very old friend of mine and I would like to see him and do some catching up with him." Yalu explained.
Luka nodded, "Yes, Sir. Around this time of day, he's mainly in his office doing paperwork. I'm sure, he'll be glad to see you."
"Thank you very much, Luka. It was nice seeing again. Have a good evening." Yalu said, continuing to be polite.
"Thank you, Sir. You, too." Luka replied.
Then they continued on to Barlow's while Luka walked back to the garrison for guard shift.
"Man, Yalu, you must really have friends everywhere." Pete said.
"Pretty much. Many apes around here, I know their families." Yalu told him.
"A lot of prominent families too." Galen added.
They didn't chat much longer, before they found themselves in front of Barlow's door.
Galen gave it a couple knocks and waited. Several seconds later, Barlow came to the door. He peeked out to see who it was and saw Galen, Alan, Pete, and a very old friend he hadn't seen in years.
"Yalu! So good to see you again, my friend! Please, please, come in!" Barlow said, excitedly stepping aside and allowing them in.
The whole group went inside. Yalu smiled and gave the other older chimp a brief pat on the shoulder in greeting.
"So, good to see you too, old friend. And thank you very much for looking out for my son and his family." Yalu thanked him.
"You're very welcome. Please, won't you sit down?" Barlow offered and gestured to one of the two chairs in front of his desk.
"Yes, thank you." Yalu replied.
Yalu took one seat, and Galen took the other. While Barlow rounded his desk and took a seat. Unfortunately, there weren't any extra chairs in the room, so Alan and Pete had to stand.
"I'm sorry, where are my manners. Would any of you like something to drink?" Barlow asked.
"Thanks, Barlow, but we're good." Alan replied.
"No thank you. But thanks for offering." Yalu said.
"Yes, thanks, but no thanks." Galen added.
"We're actually here because we have something of great importance to discuss with you." Yalu stated.
"Oh, and what would that be?" Barlow inquired.
They were silent for a moment, before anyone spoke up.
"Please, don't be upset, Barlow. But...I told father of...the records you claim to have on Urko." Galen hesitantly said.
Barlow was silent for a moment, then gave a slow nod.
"I see. And you wish to inquire more about them, correct?" Barlow asked Yalu.
"Yes, I apologize for any intrusiveness on my part, my friend." Yalu told him.
"It's alright, I understand. I'll retrieve them." Barlow said.
Then he got up from his desk and went into a large two door cabinet behind him. He shuffled through some organized boxes, before pulling out one. He placed the box on the floor by his chair and hefted a large leatherbound book filled to the brim with papers out of the box and placed it on his desk before them, before sitting back down.
"Damn, that whole book is all records of Urko?" Pete said, as he eyed the rather large volume.
"Yes, around twenty to twenty-five years' worth. Been collecting them for many years now. Many coming from other witnesses to his deeds. Some from a secondary office that tried to shove it under the rug, so to speak.
Though many of these original members from that secondary office are no longer around, seeing as this was quite some years ago. But yes, everything is here." Barlow informed them.
"Barlow, I come here to request that you allow me to take this book back to the council with me when I leave here. That is more than enough records to indicate, he is a very dangerous individual, and should not be free to intermingle with our society." Yalu pointed out.
The prefect was silent for a moment.
"I think you're right. It is time. Though, it's not just me. There are other prefects that have some records on his exploits as well. Not nearly as many as me, but if you were to get ahold of them and add them to this book, it will help your case.
I agree, he is dangerous. Not only to humans, but to apes as well. I have quite a few guards here that used to work under him that can attest to the fact he doesn't always play by the rules and bends them quite frequently.
It was enough to the point, that none of them no longer wanted to be involved because many of them violated our laws. Unfortunately, none of them could report the activities to the council because it would be their word against the chief of security.
So, they instead either end up quitting his guard or transferring to another garrison in another village. Of course, there were some who also left because their lives were threatened if they should talk.
I am hoping though, with all these records I have collected over the last two and a half decades, it will be enough to back them all up, and have solid proof of his illegal activities." Barlow explained.
"Do you believe now that all this proof is right here in front of us, that those others will come forward in front of the council to further explain their eyewitness account?" Galen inquired.
"It should, because Urko would no longer be able to dangle their lives in front of their faces. I doubt even he would dare do that in front of the council, right?" Alan implied.
Barlow nodded, "Yes, all those who testify before the council are safely guarded in there. He wouldn't dare try anything during the trial."
"May we have the names of these other prefects that have these other handwritten and documented accounts?" Yalu asks.
His friend nodded, "Yes, there are in fact several. Many within neighboring districts all around the lands. You may have to send messengers out to collect them all. Because going from one village and district to another on your won would take up some time."
"There are really that many?" Galen inquired, rather surprised.
"Yes, at least...oh, seven that I know of. Either way, I'll provide you with the names of all of them. I'll also send out a letter to each of them requesting that they surrender the records to Yalu per his request. I know, they would be more than willing to do so." Barlow assured them.
"How do we know they would be willing and will comply to the demands though?" Pete asked.
"Because, as I said, they are aware of the illegal acts he has done over the years. He even threatened a few of these prefects as well, not to talk. I know they would want him put away so he can't hurt anyone else just as much as we do." Barlow stated.
Yes, many of these prefects whom he is friends with have spoken to him on plenty of occasions over the years, how they would like to see Urko removed because of the things he has done and because he does scare them.
"Jeez, there anyone on this world Urko didn't threaten?" Pete quipped.
"Apparently, not." Galen replied.
"He craves control and power. I'm fairly convinced if he had his way and gained control over the council, he'd be out here eradicating humans left and right and any apes that got in his way. His hatred for the human race runs deep within him like poison.
And what he has been learning about humans of the past through Burke and Virdon, only makes that hatred and fear grow. It is why he is so determined to kill them, Galen, and Kristin.
I don't even want to think what he'd do to the baby. But it's clear, he has no issues with killing children. Especially, if he learns of her parentage.
He's the main reason why so many interspecies couples live in fear and stay hidden. Because if he found out about them, he won't hesitate to hunt them all down and kill them.
Urko is a cold-blooded killer, and always will be. I fear, he will never stop, until he is either put away or killed. It is why, I was determined to collect every single account and record that I could over the years.
So, that with all this insurmountable evidence, he will have no chance of being pardoned or dismissed for the atrocities he has committed over the span of the last couple decades." Barlow informed them.
"It's quite clear he's no different than any other bloodthirsty dictator in past human history." Alan surmised.
Barlow nodded, "Yes, I fear you're right on that assumption. To him, all that matters is this egregious agenda of his and what he believes in his twisted mind is good for the apes."
"It really is all the more reason to show this book to Zaius and the other councilmen right away." Yalu says.
Barlow slowly pushed the heavy leatherbound book across his oak desk towards his friend to take. Then he pulled out some parchment paper and a pen.
"I'm writing down the names of the prefects that hold these other records and giving it to you. That way, you know where to send messengers out to retrieve these records." Barlow told him.
"Thank you, Barlow." Galen said.
It took about a couple minutes, but he wrote the list of names to these prefects down and put the names of the villages next to their names. Then he handed it to Yalu.
Yalu looked down the list. Some of these apes he knew, others, he was not too familiar with. In the end, he will obtain these other records. If a councilmember requests something of grave importance, the other party cannot deny them.
"Thank you, my friend." Yalu says.
"Of course, and as far as witnesses go, all those records in there were signed at the bottom by those who reported the activities by Urko. There are even a few right here in this village. I would hand all the records into the council first before approaching the witnesses and asking them to testify in council." Barlow informed him.
"Agreed. Some of these villages listed on here, are not far from here. Perhaps, I can stop by a few of them and request the records myself on the way back to Central City. Tomorrow morning I'll write out the request letters and have them sent out immediately to these other villages. Once I have collected them all, only then will I present everything together to the council." Yalu surmised.
They spoke a little longer, everyone putting in their two cents on what else they can do to nail Urko to the wall and make everyone in these lands safe from him and his crazy and dangerous ideals and agendas.
Afterwards, they all decided it was time to go. It was getting late now; the sun having gone down quite some time ago. By now, Kristin and Ann were probably wondering what was taking so long.
They thanked Barlow again and bid him goodbye, before heading out. Then the group of four headed back to Galen and Kristin's dwellings.
The two females, plus the baby were still sitting on the couch when they got in. Ann had one of the baby books filled with children's stories open, and she was reading one of the stories to baby Lily, when her husband, son and their two friends walked through the front door.
"How'd did everything go? You guys were gone for quite a while." Kristin said, as she got up and approached them.
"Sorry, for taking so long. But at least we got to talk about what needed to be talked about." Galen told her.
"Are you going to tell us about it?" Kristin asked.
"Not right this moment, but yes, we will." Galen replied.
He then approached her, and noted, she had Lily in her arms. He carefully pulled them in for a hug.
While Ann set the book aside and got up and approached her husband. She paused a couple feet away from him when she noticed he was carrying a rather thick, leatherbound book.
"What is that?" Ann asked, gesturing to the book in Yalu's hands.
"I'll explain everything on the way back home." He told her.
Ann eyed him for a moment, then nodded.
"Is there anything more we can do now?" Alan asked Yalu.
He shook his head, "At this moment, all you four can do is wait. Let me handle the rest."
Kristin and Ann really wanted to know what was going on now.
"Handle what? Just what were you all talking about with Barlow?" Kristin pressed.
"As I said, I'll explain it to you in a little bit." Galen reminded her.
"It is getting late; I do believe we should start heading out now." Yalu informed them and his wife.
"Alright." Ann said.
Galen's parents shared hugs with him and Kristin and kissed their granddaughter goodbye. Before they left and headed for their carriage parked off to the side.
It wasn't even a couple minutes later, when Alan and Pete informed them that they were heading out too and that they will see them soon.
The two men bid them goodbye and then left to go back to their hut down the way.
Galen closed the door behind him and turned to face Kristin, who still stood there cradling their daughter to her chest. He approached them and stood before them.
He reached up and brushed a stray lock behind Kristin's ear, then lightly cupped her cheek.
"Let's take a seat on the couch. And I promise to explain everything to you." Galen told her.
"Ok." Kristin said.
Galen wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and they walked back to the couch a few feet away and sat down.
"What I have to say, will seem like a lot. It may be our biggest challenge yet. But unlike all of the other challenges we faced, this is actually one we won't be facing alone. Many others will be facing it along with us.
It is something big that may insure not only our safety, but everyone's safety. If we all can pull this off, we can look to a brighter future without any fear." He told her.
"What is it?" She asks.
He eyed her a moment before starting to explain everything that has come up within these last few hours starting with informing his father about the records, to bringing Alan and Pete in on it, to discussing what needs to be done with Barlow.
By the end of it, they knew all they can do afterwards, is put faith in the council and whatever decisions they decide to make in regard to these records on Urko.
Hopefully, it will be the right decision for all.
Until Next Time ;)