Hello, friends!

Caesar's Ghost continues with another chapter. This was a fun one for me. I hope you enjoy it too!

"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable."

-James Garfield

Act 1 Chapter 3. Legacy

Raka insisted on cutting the horses loose to avoid being tracked down by the masks. Caesar couldn't fault him for that logic, though he felt uneasy at the prospect of traveling on foot. They'd need a better plan.

For the time being, the collective focus had shifted to the one non-ape in their group. Noa stared at Nova like she had two heads instead of one. Raka wasted no breath in inquiring the reason.

"What did we miss?"

Caesar hadn't missed it. He'd heard clear as day the word 'Noa' escape the lips of that human. Evidently, such a concept was tree shattering for both Noa and Raka.

"She spoke…"

Raka raised his brows as high as the blue sky.

"She called my name."

Self assured skepticism followed from the orangutan.

"You misheard," he said with the full confidence of someone who knows that silly things like pigs flying and humans talking is impossible.

"You said this…Nova…was smarter than most."

"Within reason…some intelligence to be sure."

While they debated, Caesar never took his eye off of 'Nova' (if that was her real name). He'd suspected from the moment his eyes caught hers, she was putting on a facade of feebleness. Acknowledging that there was no point in continuing that facade, she put an end to it.

"I have a name…Mae."

The blue blanket in Raka's hands dropped at the same time as his mouth. Noa wore an equal expression of astonishment.

"I know where they're taking your clan."

Caesar wished he could have felt surprised or a degree of pity for the other two apes. For him, it was just another day.

The group moved on after the initial shock wore off. They found shelter at the base of a large boulder with an oak tree to provide cover from potential rain. After a brief rest, a deep discussion was held. Water flowed and so did the conversations.

"I'm trying to reach another human settlement," Mae explained as she took an extended swig from a jug, quenching her parched throat. She handed it back to Noa. "That's where I was headed. Hoping to find more like me."

The euphoria of interfacing with a talking human had not worn off for Raka. The smile around his lips grew wider at the mention of other talking humans.

"There are…more? Like you?"

Of course there are, Caesar thought. Where there was one human, more were bound to follow. But he noticed the deadened look in her eye when she responded.

"There used to be more."

"What happened?"

It was the first question he'd asked, both out of personal interest and to see what her response would be. Caesar desired to see if humans were still a threat…and if they were alright. It was a terrible conflict to experience; love and hate for the people who raised you.

At any rate, Mae didn't answer. Instead she looked down, as if the question had the same effect as the virus itself. Raka cautioned him with a steady hand.

"You don't need to tell us. But…I hope you can trust that we will not harm you."

She nodded. However, Caesar saw the inherent mistrust in her eyes. Eyes that held little warmth or comfort at sharing a camp with apes. Noa seemed to pick up on this, though not for the same reason.

"Why did you…not tell the truth?"

"I had to stay silent."

"Why?"

It was a test. Caesar needed to see how forthcoming Mae would be now that the secret of her intelligence was out in the open. He sensed there was more to the story.

"For my safety," she replied.

"You were safe with us," Noa said, looking almost hurt. He pointed a finger at her. "And still…not true."

"I don't take chances."

Raka leaned forward, seeking to lessen the barrage being sent her way.

"Do you have a family…Mae?"

"I am alone."

Her voice wavered a bit and Raka understood its meaning immediately. The orangutan rumbled in sadness and gave an empathic nod.

"As…are we all. But now," he gestured towards Noa and Caesar. "...we have each other."

Raka's innate sense of compassion was something to be admired. A trait Caesar learned to value over the years. That didn't mean he trusted Mae. For while Mae came across as tired, weary, and sympathetic, she'd avoided giving straight answers.

And I need to find them if I'm going to figure this out.

"Come…let us have a fire," Raka said, stretching out his long arms. "We have much to discuss."

"I'll go and collect wood," Caesar volunteered.

"An excellent idea. Noa…you will come with me. Mae can go with…Caesar."

Raka said his name with a wink, which was a bit disconcerting. Caesar chose to ignore it for now. For when he turned to address Mae she'd already departed into the woods.

Though he'd only known her for a short time (less than a day in fact), Mae proved to be one of the more, if not the most, intriguing humans Caesar had come across.

Will was his father. No species barrier changed that. The man who raised him had been compassionate, kind, and gentle. He'd never used a hand or said a cruel word. Always supportive, always there…until he wasn't. Abandoned to a life inside a cold cage awakened Caesar to the fact that humans made mistakes...and that apes were his true family.

Malcolm represented the best of humanity. Though he loved Will, Caesar never forgot that his adoptive father had failed to see the dangers in front of him. A blind spot that ended up being fatal to apes and humans alike. Malcolm recognized him as a leader from the get go and was the closest to considering him as an equal. They'd worked together, forging a bond based on trust and mutual appreciation. He'd spared his life while Malcolm's partner saved his son in return. Selfless acts born out of compassion. Not self interest.

Caesar picked up a stray log and stacked it against another. He blew out a sigh into the forest breeze. Once in a while, in private moments, he allowed himself to envision what could have been had their partnership survived Koba's betrayal. Apes thriving in the lush forests, humans rebuilding their societies, each living in peace. In time, perhaps they could have done many more things together. Great things. Wonderful things. And Cornelia and Blue Eyes would still be alive…

Human work.

Koba's warning eventually turned out to be prophetic. The colonel was a radical man. Twisted by the evil he'd forced himself to commit. Shooting his own son. Shooting others with families when they refused to do the same. Enslaving apes with little food or water. But that wasn't the most frightening aspect of the colonel's brutality. No, what terrified Caesar was that he understood, even empathized with McCullough's position. And that his own self destructiveness matched the human he despised.

If Malcolm had been the best, the colonel had been the worst. Which one was Mae? Both? Neither? Something in between?

Standing about twenty yards off, she did her own diligence, collecting bundles of sticks as opposed to large logs. It was a smart move. Kindling would be needed for the fire and to cook the rabbit. Caesar never doubted her intelligence. Her intentions were another matter.

Will, Malcolm, the Colonel, Mae…they were still human. And humans could not bear the idea of a species being better or equal to themselves. That's why peace had been impossible…and how he lost his wife and son.

Caesar wandered over to where Mae had finished gathering the last of her share. He kept a full eye on her, careful not to show his back or weakness. Rather than a direct approach, he circled around to see what her reaction would be.

"What do you want?"

Her voice was sharp and so was the movement of her head. Once again, eyes told the story. Unlike apes, humans utilized and interpreted eye contact in a variety of ways. For most, it was a way to express silent communication like affection, caution, and love. In other instances, it was a method of deterrence; intimidation. The whites of human eyes were full of tenderness and terror depending on their moods.

Apes too used eye contact to convey meaning but not as frequently and it was understood that such connections were reserved for specific situations. One wrong move, one misstep, the ape instinct was to become angry and attack.

Judging by Mae's expression, she was projecting strength in the face of a much stronger enemy that could rip her apart if desired. A warning to back off. Away from the serene Raka and the naive Noa, her true feelings were naked for all to see.

She did not like apes.

Caesar sought to put her at ease. There was no need to fight. Not yet.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

There was a slight burst of air through her nose. A sign she didn't believe him.

"Is that why you were sneaking up on me?"

"You heard me coming…because I wanted you to."

He had to make it clear that his power dwarfed hers. But he relaxed his shoulders and allowed the arms to dangle in a show of non-aggression.

"I have questions."

"What makes you think I'm going to answer?"

Mae took the number one spot for the most stubborn human, Caesar decided. She was guarded and kept her words few and short.

There has to be a reason why she's so hostile.

"I am not a mask," he said quietly. "I have known many of your kind. Helped them. Protected them."

"I don't need protection," Mae insisted.

There he caught wind of her slip. A minor one, but potent nonetheless. She knew it too.

"If that was true…you wouldn't have followed Raka and Noa."

Having pinned her against a wall, Caesar pressed the issue. "Why does the war between ape and human continue?"

Mae scoffed. Not out of arrogance but his ignorance.

"There is no war."

"But I saw…apes attack humans."

"Apes usually attack humans. It's nothing new." Her voice was colder than the mountains of snow he'd traversed. However much time passed since his 'death' and the present, there had been a victor.

"Why do they hunt you?"

"You witnessed that for yourself," Mae retorted.

"No. Why do they hunt you?"

The emphasis on the last word back her into a corner again. He was edging closer to a terrible truth. One she did not want to reveal.

"I saw what happened," Caesar said when her silence eclipsed five seconds. "Those apes were not after humans to kill them. They had no interest…except in one."

"Because I'm a threat," she replied. "Because apes will stop at nothing until we're wiped out."

Caesar held back a rush of anger. How could she believe those words? So full of hypocrisy and foolishness. But was it fair to judge her for doing so? For being hunted down like an animal worthy of extermination or worse? He knew that same feeling.

"They hunt apes too," he countered. "How do you explain that?

A darker thought occurred.

"Unless you're setting a trap."

"It's not a trap." She denied it with the vigor of someone who could not lie even if they wanted. "It's far worse. And I'm done being interrogated."

Mae moved to walk past him but he blocked her path.

"You might not care what happens to apes…but I do," Caesar said in a low growl. "I won't let Raka and Noa get hurt."

To her credit or her hubris, depending on the point of view, she did not back down.

"I don't know if you woke up yesterday or if you're just playing dumb," she hissed back. "But apes aren't exactly the good guys. I thought maybe you noticed that today."

The sting of her words was enough to paralyze Caesar to the spot as he tried to piece together this conflicting information. Apes dominated humans but they also dominated their fellow apes. The war between the two species had ended but one persecuted the other. Humans had become beasts and yet Mae was a contradiction to this fact. Friends and enemies alike invoked his name for good or for evil. It was enough to make his head explode.

"What year is it?"

He said it aloud out of a complete lack of understanding. Mae stopped and eyed her opponent, unsure whether he was serious or insulting her. She decided on the latter.

"Don't ask obvious questions."

The sound of feet crunching leaves became fainter until Caesar was alone; left to ponder whether the obvious just might break his sanity.

In contrast to the pandemonium of the day, the nighttime brought a relative peace to the odd foursome. There were few things a roaring fire and good food couldn't fix in Raka's opinion.

The Order of Caesar did more than just study the works of their elders. Other useful pursuits were an important part of tradition. Including his method of cooking rabbit.

"Through testing and much error…we have found a way to make food…taste better."

Different meals required different ingredients. But Raka was well versed in the art of picking out which spices went with which dish. For example, you did not put berries on something that was already sweet, but you might add it to something that tasted bland. Or when you caught a smaller animal, skinning, cutting, and cooking it into a pot over a fire softened the meat, making it all that much more delectable. Throw in a few herbs and you had a delightful dinner.

Everyone agreed that it was delicious and for a time, the group sat in silence. A good sign. When hungry stomachs talked, mouths closed. Nothing needed to be said.

After the bowls were cleaned and guts satiated, discussion began on what to do next. Mae informed them that the human settlement she sought was further south at the bottom of a stretch of coastline far from prying eyes. The people living there were hoping to build a new life and lay the foundations of a new civilization. Raka made a note that he would stay if given the chance. The opportunity to help Caesar's beloved helpers was something he could not pass up. How exciting!

When Noa brought up the subject of where his clan was, Mae claimed to know where the masks resided and would take him and Caesar to the very edge of their territory. From there, the party would go their separate ways.

Call it a funny feeling, but Raka had a sense of higher purpose. Not omnipotence, Caesar forbid he become that arrogant. However, there was something special about this eclectic mix of human and ape. This band of travelers that came upon each other by pure chance, all victims of the same malign forces, bound together in an unlikely but noble cause.

Caesar called on his followers to do many things: heal the sick, help those who needed help, and to show mercy wherever possible. Another tenant of this philosophy was to show compassion to strangers. (within reason; he wouldn't have minded clubbing a few more of those masks). Strangers were just a stone's throw away from becoming a friend. You never know what you might find.

What had he found in these three new companions? A new village. A chance at something new. Noa, the young scion of Eagle Clan, principled and determined. Mae, the talking human looking to create an entire community for those like her. And then there was Caesar. The ape who carried the name of the Lawgiver.

It hadn't occurred to him at first that this might carry some sort of significance. The possibility some idealistic ape might want to name their offspring 'Caesar' wasn't zero. Other factors worked inside Raka's brain.

Here was an ape; still young, but with the gravitas of someone much older. Though his basic level of knowledge about the world seemed to be missing a few pieces, he also carried knowledge yet unknown to him. How did he judge that animal to be a…a zebra was it? Raka judged him to be smart, strong, powerful, and wise. He noticed the little things. Things most people would be quick to dismiss. Caesar detected that Mae was intelligent when he refused to consider it. Shame on him for his own ignorance!

Caesar was also a great fighter, capable of going toe to toe with an ape twice his size. He wielded technological wonders in a manner that suggested he'd used them before. Most apes with such levels of talent would be arrogant or puff out their chests in pride. They would dominate others. Caesar did not assert his power despite being the senior among their group. He volunteered to assist with campwork. He was humble and without ego.

There was also his speech. Caesar spoke in a steady, but eloquent pace. He used words in a manner that Raka had never heard before.

All of this made him wonder. Who was this ape truly?

"Mae, why do humans only walk on two feet?"

When the eating had finished and the food began to settle, light conversation picked up around the fire, its flames casting an orange glow around their tiny corner of the forest. Small and casual at first, the mood had become more sociable as dusk turned to night.

"We're just built that way, I guess," she said with a shrug.

"Yes, but…how do you…climb a tree? I've never seen echoes do this," Noa said.

"We can. We're just…not as good at it."

"So…what can humans do?"

For the first time since meeting her, Mae showed the smallest of smiles.

"Throw things."

Noa frowned. Raka leaned forward with anticipation.

"Throw things?

"Mhm. We're very good at it."

The orangutan looked to Caesar to gauge his reaction. So far, he seemed neutral to this declaration.

"I…propose…a contest," Raka said, picking the now empty pot of stew. "Noa and Mae each throw ten rocks. Whoever gets the most inside the pot…wins."

The spark of competition ended up being contagious. Noa gave his opponent a sly smile.

"No…chance."

Mae returned that look with the eye of someone who's confidence reached higher than the tree tops.

"You're on."

Noa went first. Grabbing the appropriate number of stones, he fired the first shot. Miss. He fired the second. Miss. He made the third but missed the next two.

Feeling the pressure, Noa concentrated carefully on the pot, which was about six feet away. He proceeded to make four awkward shots in a row before the last bounced off the side with a sad clank.

"Five out of ten," Raka tallied. "Not bad. Let's see…what Mae can do."

In the interim, Mae had grabbed stones of her own, ready to unleash her arsenal on command. She aimed, fired and missed the first shot wide to the left. Raka suppressed a chuckle. He felt a degree of pity. Humans just didn't have the natural advantages of apes.

What happened next shattered every lesson he'd been taught by the elders. Mae drained the next nine shots in a row, one by one, each shot ringing with perfection. It wasn't just that she made the shots, but the effort behind them, or lack thereof. The way the stones moved through her fingers like water, the soaring arc in which they flew before landing into the pot. It went beyond ability. This was…natural.

As if to emphasize the point, Mae picked up one last stone.

"I need to make up for the one I missed."

Instead of throwing it forehanded like the previous ten, she turned to the side and put her right arm behind her back. In one fluid motion and a mere flick of the wrist, the rock went straight into the pot.

Raka was so jubilant, he started to laugh, clapping in amazement.

"Wonderful…most wonderful! We have a winner!"

Noa, humbled but no worse for wear, acknowledged the defeat with grace.

"You are…victorious. Congratulations."

To Raka's delight, Mae thanked him. What a stupendous development! Humans and apes living side by side in harmony. On the road to becoming friends! Caesar would surely be proud.

And yet the one Caesar in their midst did not share in the joy. On the contrary, he looked lukewarm, conflicted even…and sad. That same deep sorrow he detected earlier was back in full force. What terrible wrong had been done to him?

The conversation went on covering a number of topics ranging from ape culture, food, and even a joke or two. Soon the fire began to recede into soft, glowing embers and fatigue set in. Noa began to fiddle with the broken electrical staff, toying with the wires until sparks began shooting out. It did not take long for him to get it working again. Most impressive.

"Quite the day, it's been," he remarked off-hand. The fire was just strong enough to illuminate faces close to the flames. Raka could make out that Mae was shivering. The poor thing. No fur to protect against the cold. Noa, noticing her discomfort, offered her his mother's blanket, which she took and wrapped around herself. There was no word of thanks, but he saw she was grateful. Her small smile spoke louder.

"Yes. It has," Caesar agreed. He hadn't said much over the course of the meal beyond a comment here and there. Another curious tendency. Raka perceived something deeper afoot.

"What…troubles you?" he asked. He kept his voice down and utilized sign language so as not to disturb Mae and Noa, who were dozing off.

"Nothing," Caesar signed back perfectly.

"I do not mean to pry. But I'd like to help if I can."

Caesar closed his eyes, opened them and let out a sigh.

"I worry for my clan. My family," he said. "They are important."

Raka bowed in respect.

"I understand."

"Do you know for sure if these…masks have taken them?"

He shook his head, regretting that he could not assure Caesar.

"I can share only what I have…seen and heard. The masks have moved to gain territory beyond the coast," he said, making the appropriate sign, pointing to the west. "They targeted my Order because we spoke the truth. Because they wanted to…kill anyone who challenged their lies."

"The lies about Caesar?"

Raka detected the awkward inflection at the sound of that name. It was always strange to say your own name as though someone else had it first.

"Yes. Caesar was and is the most respected elder. They use his name to control other apes."

Caesar glanced at Mae.

"And humans?"

"Especially humans," Raka affirmed sadly. "The masks treat them worse…though I…do not know why."

For the first time that night, Caesar gave direct eye contact. It was quite powerful.

"Can you tell me more? About Caesar?"

Raka could not have been more delighted. What a blessing indeed! To teach others about the goodness of the Lawgiver and his incredible life! Not the distorted version of the masks.

"I am honored." And though the hour was late, the orangutan found himself full of energy. Teaching brought that out in him. "What can I tell you?"

"Where did he come from?"

"Ah…now that is the question, isn't it? We cannot be sure. Ape scholars have…debated this very subject. But we do know a few things. The first is that he was…raised by humans."

"Raised by humans?"

It sounded skeptical but Raka saw that Caesar meant something else by repeating the question. Confirmation rather than condemnation.

"Yes. The legend says that he was found alone in a forest by a…male and female. They protected and cherished him as their own. For a time Caesar himself thought he was…human."

"What happened?"

Raka hummed. He'd heard the tale from the monks many times, he could recite it backward.

"At some point, after realizing he was not human, Caesar rejoined his kind."

"Naturally," the chimp muttered.

"He went on to rise through the ranks and became a…great leader. A leader of many apes- chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans. They all admired and loved him."

Raka's face darkened as the dying fire belched out a bushel of flames.

"Then the plague came."

He explained how a terrible disease ravaged the land. Apes were spared the worst of the effects but the great herds of humans were decimated. One by one, they fell until almost none were left. Caesar led his people through this plague and enjoyed a peaceful existence. But this too was not to last, for Koba, his right hand ape and trusted lieutenant, betrayed him. A war began. A bloody, destructive conflict that threatened to wipe out apekind from existence. Here, Caesar shined in his finest hour. Defeating Koba, he led his clan to safety. To the golden oasis where the seed of all the clans were planted, which spread forth to the four corners of the earth.

He talked of Cornelia, the first mother. Blue Eyes, the first born son, who sacrificed himself for his family. Cornelius, the second born who succeeded his father and oversaw an era of peace and harmony. The True Disciples, the first followers of Caesar some of whom went on to preach his word- Maurice, Rocket, Buck, Luca, and many others.

Caesar hung onto every word like it was the last he'd ever hear. He consumed them with a rigor that surpassed most initiates. At times Raka thought a tear or two quivered in the irises of his green eyes, though it could have been a trick of the receding light.

When the story ended, Caesar sat still. He did not move for so long, Raka wondered whether or not he turned to stone.

"I'm going to take first watch."

The announcement came suddenly and Raka steadied his rise.

"There is no need. The masks…will not find us here."

"You don't know that for sure," Caesar countered back. "Take your rest…I will be fine."

His tone left no room for argument. The chimp marched off to the edge of their encampment and sat down on all fours. Raka's first instincts told him to check on his well-being; a stronger one told him to leave it be. Caesar needed to be by himself.

As the last of the fire crackled and snapped into a long awaited death, sleep overtook the orangutan's mind. But not before he heard a sniffle or two.

It sounded a lot like crying.

Quick points of emphasis.

A/N #1- Caesar is a bit...conflicted when it comes to humans. He doesn't hate them and he'll never get to the level of Koba. But he's had too many bad experiences to trust them blindly as he did in the past.

A/N #2- I've tried to copy the speech patterns as best I can. Noa and Raka speak with frequent pauses and breaths in between certain phrases, words, and verbs. By the events of 'War', Caesar had almost none of this breathiness in the way he communicated. It was on par with humans. So I'm depicting him as far ahead of the other apes, even 300 years later. This is also not lost on Mae.

A/N#3- Just goes to show how religion and historical figures can lose their truth over time.

Next chapter should be up by mid next week! Rock on!

~The Wasp