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 33
Caesar dodged the spear intended for his heart. He knocked the spear from Koba's hands swiftly disarming him. This sent it tumbling below disappearing into the darkness.
In retaliation, Koba kicked Caesar in the chest. The impact sent Caesar tumbling down his back slamming into the beam on the way, winding him. Koba jumped on top of him, but Caesar kicked him off flinging the bonobo into the air.
On their feet, Caesar and Koba traded blows. Grappling they bit, kicked, leaped, and punched across the grid of beams. Where before Caesar could easily overpower Koba at full strength now the roles were seriously reversed and Koba had the advantage.
At some point Caesar overbalanced and when he tried to correct it he ended up pitched over. At the last second Caesar grabbed Koba's ankle with his foot taking the bonobo with him.
Caesar landed on sheets of metal laid out for flooring while Koba hit the top of some scaffolding scattering a bunch of kinds of construction equipment left behind.
Running out onto a vacant beam the twins hooted anxiously down at their father checking to see if he was okay. They were mightily relieved when Caesar lifted his head to look at them. But their relief quickly turned to horror when they saw Koba stand.
Koba traced his fingers over a bloody gash in his side where a shark piece of metal had slashed him. Snarling at the blood Kobo took up a steel rod as his weapon of choice in place of his gun.
Koba charged after Caesar. Caesar ran evading the crazed bonobo to the best of his ability. He leaped and bounded over materials on different levels, rapidly climbing stairs, and throwing anything he could get his hands on at Koba hoping to deter him. Reaching a dead end Caesar claimed a large piece of metal grating off the floor. Koba and Caesar faced off, predatorily circling each other.
"Trusted Koba like a brother," growled Caesar, holding a piece of metal grating used for a catwalk defensively as a weapon. "And you tried to kill my daughter."
"Caesar brother to human," yelled Koba, wild-eyed, lashing out savagely at Caesar with reckless abandon. Caesar used the grating as a shield deflecting each swing. "Daughter is traitor like father! Koba fight for ape! Free ape!"
The power behind Koba's blows was intensifying. Koba was practically pouring all of his rage and hatred into each attack. It was as if he was, also, trying to convince himself it was all true.
"Kill ape," goaded Caesar, teeth gritted. "Koba fight for Koba." Screeching Koba brought down the rod on Caesar again. "Koba belong in cage."
That sent Koba off the deep end.
Hate and rage were the only things driving him now Koba attacked Caesar more viciously than he'd ever done before. In fact, no one had ever seen him this manic. Koba was unrecognizable to those who loved him. He swiped the grating out of Caesar's hands, but he never needed it. When Koba moved in for the kill Caesar was ready.
Ducking the swing Caesar elbowed Koba hard in the side where the cut was. Koba doubled over and all around apes hooted their encouragement and support for Caesar lending him their power. The tide was turning in Caesar's favor in spite of his weakened state. Eventually, he got the steel rod away from Koba leaving him weaponless. He kept dodging Koba's attacks aiming for the bleeding wound in his side. The last push Caesar landed sent Koba stumbling backwards clutching his bleeding side.
Tiring Caesar retreated taking weary steps to the edge of the platform, but steadied himself. His face lined with grim determination he then stepped forward to finish the job.
If Koba couldn't kill Caesar directly then he would crush him. Koba completely overturned the neighboring scaffolding he'd been leaning on. Caesar rolled out of the way in time, but the full weight of the scaffolding and everything on the shelves made the flimsy rickety wooden flooring collapse from the sheer pressure.
To save himself Caesar grabbed a chain hanging from the crane above. Koba followed the example launching him at a nearby chain the two swinging towards each other. The two collided and they continued their battle.
The longer this conflict played out the more concerned Willow became. It was only a matter of time before the injury to Caesar's shoulder sapped his strength, leaving his willpower not enough.
Then without warning an explosion rocketed the tower foundation. An enormous fireball churned up the core shaft and as the building shook apes that couldn't keep their footing or grab anything in time fell to their deaths in the inferno. Willow and Blue Eyes were two of the lucky ones. From where they were standing with Rocket, Maurice, and Luca they scrambled out of the way in time to avoid getting demolished by the crane. It got loose from all the shaking and landed in the exact spot where the five had been previously standing monitoring the fight.
Caesar and Koba swung on their chains to sheltered spots. These were sturdier so they didn't drop. Caesar arrested his fall at the crossing of a beam and girder covered with metal sheeting hunching instinctively into him for protection.
Fortunately, the fireball dissipated before it could reach the majority of the apes, but the damage had been done.
When it was over the result was a grisly sight to behold once the haze created from the smoke and dust cleared. The foundation of the skyscraper was shaken to the core. One wrong step and the whole thing could come down. There were bodies littered everywhere you looked with others, dazed, from the blast, regained their footing and bearings. The air was filled with groans and whimpers from injured and frightened apes seeking help.
Frantically scanning the wreckage for her father, Willow located Caesar already digging through the debris for survivors temporarily forgetting about Koba to assist those who needed him.
Willow immediately jumped into action. Hooting at her brother Willow pointed at where Caesar was struggling to pull a section of flooring that had caved in off a few trapped apes. Together the twins quickly climbed down to lend a hand and all three pulled it off. Freed the chimpanzee and gorilla began to climb to more stable ground. Already there Willow held out a hand to the gorilla. Just as he was about to take it disaster struck.
There was gunfire and the gorilla jolted falling backwards dead.
Somehow Koba had retrieved his gun.
Shrieking Koba fired at every ape in his line of sight forcing everyone to take cover as bullets rebounded off every metal surface they hit.
Caesar, Willow, and Blue Eyes hid behind a pillar. Koba would soon run out of ammunition, but they couldn't wait that long. Apes were dying they needed to do something.
Thinking fast Blue Eyes ran into the open with Willow following. On a catwalk, working as one, Blue Eyes and Willow lifted a mass of steel rods tied together and threw them with all their might at Koba at the same time Maurice, Rocket, and Luca reached them. The rods missed Koba by a couple of inches and, unfortunately, this presented him with a new target.
Aiming Koba shot at the ape he saw was the cause for his plans falling apart. Even if he died Koba, hellbent, would take her with him.
Screaming Willow ducked wrapping her arms over her head as bullets rained down on her. Screeching Blue Eyes courageously covered his twin with his own body at great risk to his own life. Blue Eyes had failed in his duty to protect her before and he wouldn't do so now.
Watching the onslaught on his precious daughter a great rage took over Caesar.
Enough was enough!
Roaring Caesar came out of hiding and launched from atop the rubble straight at Koba. Caesar hits him head on stopping Koba's attack on his daughter and saving Willow.
Koba barely managed to save himself in time. His fingers caught the tip of a beam sticking out of the debris in the wreckage. Caesar stood over him hard as a rock waiting for Koba to yield and ask forgiveness for his crimes.
He did not.
"Ape not kill ape," said Koba, smug. Caesar was the founder of the tribe's three laws with the one he'd recited most absolute.
Taking a knee Caesar bent reaching for Koba. Grasping Koba's wrist he began to slowly hoist him up. He stopped midway looking at the apes watching him act as judge and jury. Waiting for Caesar to deliberate his decision on Koba's fate. He looked in particular at his offspring. Blue Eyes had his arms wrapped protectively around his sister with her clinging to him just as fiercely. Luca, Rocket, and Maurice acted as a barrier around them with the orangutan having a bullet graze in one of his bulging cheek flaps. They were his true family, not this one.
"You are not ape," said Caesar, contemptuous, letting go of Koba's wrist.
For Koba all his ambitions, all his cunning was for naught.
"No," screamed Koba, flailing and writhing as he fell. His leg got snagged on a long line of wire. The line abruptly snapped upon contact which then sent him careening into the remnants of the crane that had fallen from the blast with an ominous bang. Tangled inside Koba plummeted to his death his shrieks fading the further until they became nonexistent.
And just like that Koba the monstrous ape that'd sent the tribe on a path filled with immeasurable misery and darkness was dead.
There was a pause where no one spoke, not daring to move an inch.
Then the eerie silence was broken when apes started hooting for Caesar. First, it was Rocket, and then others mixed their calls with his, the air resounding with the combined voices.
Caesar looked at his children fearing he'd find disgust and disappointment. Nothing could've been further from the truth. Willow and Blue Eyes didn't think less of him at all. They looked at him with pride. This lifted his spirits somewhat.
Here's something else that would lighten them more.
Sentries on lower beams screeched and hooted. The females and young had made it into the city.
With Koba removed from power out of commission all of them, including Cornelia and the little prince, were safe.
Apes climbed down the tower to reunite with their families in the courtyard.
While Blue Eyes went off searching for Cornelia to locate her, Willow stayed beside their father. A commotion behind them made the father and daughter pair turn anxiously to see what the reason for this was.
It was Malcolm. He was being dragged through a doorway by six apes threatening him with guns. Malcolm had calming hands raised to show he meant no harm. This would not do at all.
"Leave him," commanded Caesar.
Reluctantly those chimpanzees dispersed. After what they witnessed happen to Koba they weren't going to contest Caesar. So they retrained the animalistic tendencies Koba had unleashed.
With no one blocking the way, the two leaders approached each other on the plaza meeting in the middle. Caesar could sense something was amiss as did Willow. She voiced the question Caesar was portraying with his eyes.
"What's wrong," she asked.
"You're not safe here. They made contact. Other people are coming. Soldiers," explained Malcolm. "You have to leave now. Everyone."
Absorbing the news Caesar shook his head in silent refusal.
"Caesar, if you don't go," pressed Malcolm, his voice urgent, desperate to convince Caesar, "it'll be all out war."
"No," said Caesar, resigned, his expression filled with regret. "War…has already…begun. Ape started the war. And human…Humans will not forgive. You must go before the fighting begins. I am sorry…my friend."
Tears in his eyes, smiling shakily, Malcolm said "I thought we had a chance."
Understandingly, nostalgic, Caesar said, "I did, too."
He then cupped a hand around the back of Malcolm's head pulling him closer until their foreheads were pressed together. Through this, the two shared a rapport a significant moment shared in their friendship, and a realization the chances were slim they'd ever meet again after this day. This was their version of farewell.
Finally, they separated. Releasing Malcolm, Caesar stepped back turning to rejoin his kind. Having watched their exchange miserably Willow was there waiting for him. Putting a hand to her back Caesar steered Willow to the steps of the plaza. Blue Eyes met them there with Cornelia and the baby.
Willow greeted her mother first. As Caesar had done with Malcolm, Willow, and Cornelia lovingly touched foreheads. Cornelia was beyond happy to see her daughter and eldest son alive and safe. Then she spotted Caesar. Her eyes became nearly as big as an owl's in her disbelief.
To prove it was really him in the flesh and blood, Caesar held out an inviting hand to his wife smiling gently at Cornelia.
Willow took the baby from Cornelia, letting her and Caesar have their moment. Cornelia took Caesar's hand and he pulled her close. Husband and wife embraced drinking in each other's presence never wanting to let go.
But they did and the family of five stood there exuding a united front for the tribe. All of the apes dropped to their knees bowing to Caesar, extending hands to him in supplication.
Caesar was right. War had begun, but they would face it together with a single purpose guiding their future. Instead of peddling backwards, they'd continue forwards. Either they all got to the peak together or they don't get there at all.
Authors Note:
So we are at the end…or is it? ;)