Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Willow and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
Born To Lead Chapter 30
Eyes huge, Willow whispered "Brother?"
Blue Eyes kept firing off his machine engaging the sentry over the tunnel, but he couldn't keep this up for much longer. He was running out of ammunition and he knew it. Seeing Willow and the other freed captives looking at him in amazement he frantically waved them off.
With one hand Blue Eyes signed "Don't just stand there! Run!"
That managed to snap Willow out of the stupor she found herself in, reminding her they weren't out of the woods yet.
Barking orders to her apes Willow led the retreat out of there. Blue Eyes had gained them time. It was important not to waste it. Other apes would soon arrive to find the source of the gunshots and why.
The humans scattered stampeding in all directions. They would provide a sufficient distraction as to why Willow and her band were making their getaway. Koba would have his subordinates spend hours rounding back up the escaped humans instead of them. This is where his hatred of mankind would mess with his better judgment.
Koba was becoming unstable and less like the respected warrior and council member he'd grown into far away from the race that brought back so many awful memories with them. This is dangerous, yes, but it was, also, a blessing in disguise. It would leave him open to surgical strike. But first, she needed a sheltered spot to hide her troop so they could plan their next movie. They couldn't stay out in the open exposed.
Hooting drew her attention above. Blue Eyes were swinging from the streetlights over them. His gun was absent from his possession leaving Willow to conclude he discarded the weapon once its usefulness came to an end.
"Where do we go," demanded Willow.
"Follow me," signed Blue Eyes, pointing ahead indicating where he wanted them to proceed.
Blue Eyes took them to a rundown motel. The desolate lobby was big enough to conceal all of them temporarily.
Being the biggest Luca and Maurice stood guard at the windows making sure they weren't ambushed.
Scanning the interior, Rocket asked "Are you sure we're safe here?"
Nodding, Blue Eyes signed"Yes, we shouldn't be disturbed here. A patrol already raided this place earlier searching for humans. They cleaned this place out from top to bottom. So the probability of discovery is very low."
That appeared to satisfy Rocket, the explanation having sufficed. He took a seat leaning against a wall to relax for a few.
Turning Blue Eyes saw Willow staring at him.
Subdued, cautious, Blue Eyes signed "I was a jerk, I know…I don't care if you ever speak to me again, but-."
Willow tackled Blue Eyes hugging him. Blue Eyes returned the gesture just as enthusiastically.
"You're back," she breathed, relieved.
Willow was astonished at the change in her twin. Blue Eye's disposition had made a complete turnaround overnight. Willow didn't have a clue what would prompt such a sudden significant alteration in perspective, but she was grateful all the same. However, that didn't necessarily mean she was done reprimanding Blue Eyes for his arrogant, ignorant, and obnoxious behavior.
Pulling out of the embrace Willow cuffed Blue Eyes hard on the back of his head. Blue Eyes yelped but didn't retaliate. He knew he deserved it and a lot more. Willow was choosing to be lenient towards him given the circumstances. Inwardly he cringed away mindful of his sister's reproach.
Willow's eyes met his squarely, with no regret or apology. She signed "You're an idiot."
Sheepish, nodding meekly, Blue Eyes admitted"I know."
"But you're my idiot," signed Willow, smiling in forgiveness.
Blue Eyes smiled back and the twins leaned as one, touching foreheads.
Vague screeching in the distance had Willow snap into leadership mode.
Gathering the troop to her, Willow urged "We must leave now. If we stay here they'll find us for sure."
"And where do you expect to go," asked Blue Eyes, brow furrowed. "What do you plan to do?"
"Koba summoned the women and children here to the city. Mother is with them. They're too far away to warn in time of what's occurred here. We need to unseat Koba from his pedestal here and now if they're to stand a chance. Koba will think we've fled to the woods. To get to him we need to do the opposite," reasoned Willow, outlining the plan decisively.
The troop nodded their agreement Luca, Maurice, and Rocket looked on at her logic in approval.
Shaking his head profusely, Blue Eyes signed "You can't do that."
Slapping a hand to her face Willow groaned mournfully. She thought her brother had grown some backbone in the last day. He shouldn't be showing negative controversy against her plan. Apparently, she'd been misinformed.
"There's no time to argue," snapped Willow, incredulous, irritated he was contradicting her decision. "Too many lives are in jeopardy here. If Koba gets to them before we do…I don't even want to think about it. This isn't up for discussion."
Griping his sister's shoulders, giving her a little shake, Blue Eyes signed "Willow, listen to me! Look I'm just as scared for our mother and brother as you are, but there is a matter that takes far higher priority right now."
Throwing his arms off of her, his words struck a cord, doing something to trigger her anger, Willow retorted "What could be more important than overthrowing Koba?"
"Father," stated Blue Eyes, passing his eyes over everyone else once before returning to her, "he's alive."
There was a pause looks exchanged in the troop filled with shock and disbelief.
"What," signed Willow, not believing she read him correctly.
"Caesar's not dead," repeated Blue Eyes. "He lives."
Murmuring spread amongst the group not knowing what to believe with this piece of information.
Shaking her head in denial, Willow insisted "No, that's impossible. Father can't be alive. We all heard the gunshot. I saw him fall, you saw him fall. There's no way he possibly could've survived that."
Smiling gently, beaming, Blue Eyes signed "He did."
Pressed for time Blue Eyes quickly explained as best he could that Caesar was indeed alive and how Koba had tricked them. A smoldering rage burned inside Willow when he told them Koba was the one who shot Caesar, not Carver. Using every piece of self-control Willow contained the animalistic instincts threatening to override her common sense. Who knew they had such a heinous snake meticulously scheming behind the scenes? Blue Eyes told how the humans Malcolm, Ellie, and Alex had run across him barely alive when they were leaving the forest. They'd taken the injured king to safety hiding him in order to tend to his wound and allow some time to heal for two days. Caesar was currently waiting for Blue Eyes so they could put into play his own surprise attack on Koba. But Caesar would need help and that's where they all fit into the equation.
With Blue Eyes at point, he took the group through the city evading numerous patrols and the occasional scouring party. Once or twice they assumed they were about to get caught, but the fortune smiled upon them.
It took a couple of hours, but, eventually, they made their way to Pacific Heights where Caesar was said to be waiting. As they got closer to their destination the apes got more and more excited at the prospect of glimpsing Caesar alive and well.
Willow not so much. Don't get her wrong, Willow was definitely ecstatic by the thought but was afraid of getting her hopes up. Willow had faced losing her father once already. She just didn't want to feel the pain of that kind of ripping disappointment piercing through her heart again.
Blue Eyes took the troop to a decaying human dwelling overtaken by vines, weeds, and other forms of vegetation.
"Why are we here," inquired Willow.
In answer, Blue Eyes simply pointed up at the window protruding from the attic. Peering out from the other side of the glass at them was Caesar, Malcolm generally shadowing him.
When Caesar came outside the troop surged forth. Caesar greeted all of them warmly beyond happy to see they were intact unharmed. His eyes roamed over the group until he found the one he most wanted to see.
Willow was the last to come forward standing at the rear of the pack. The group parted so she could approach Caesar delicately moving one step at a time.
Openmouthed, Willow signed "Father?"
Caesar grinned outstretching an inviting hand towards Willow.
Willow hugged Caesar mirroring how Blue Eyes did to Cornelia a few days ago when he saw she was recovering. Crying, Willow signed "I thought you were dead."
"I'm here now," said Caesar, stroking her head comfortingly.
Eyes blazing, Willow signed"Koba will pay for trying to eliminate you, Father, for all the innocence who have suffered under his greed."
Shaking his head Caesar placed a hand on Willow's shoulder. Gravely, he said "I was not the one Koba meant to kill."
For a brief second what her father was insinuating failed to register to Willow. When it did she felt her heart plummet.
Lightheaded, pointing at her chest, Willow signed "Me?"
Caesar nodded confirming the facts.
Blindsided, the truth sinking in, Willow's knees turned to jelly from this revelation. She would've fainted if Rocket hadn't held her steady. In the village, Willow was confused as to why Caesar was in front of her when the gunshot boomed. Now she knows. Caesar had been protecting her blocking the bullet aimed at her heart.
Following Caesar outside trailed Malcolm with Ellie and Alex.
"They need to get to the tower without being seen," said Malcolm, kissing Ellie and hugging his son farewell. "I'm going to take him through the subway."
"I love you," said Ellie, kissing him goodbye.
"What news do you bring," asked Caesar, speaking to the loyalists in front of him.
"Koba sent for the females and young. They're on their way. Mother, too," signed Blue Eyes, emphasizing the symbol for "mother" expressing the danger she was under.
Horrified he spun on his feet towards Malcolm, riddled with fear for his wife and youngest son, Caesar gasped "Must go. Now!"
Authors Note:
OMG! We are almost there! We are almost at the end! Ah!