Hello there, friends.
Like many of you, I am a big fan of this franchise and became inspired after watching the latest movie. The way Caesar is such an omnipresent figure even in death was quite apparent during 'Kingdom' and it got me thinking: what if he could see it? What would he say? How would he react to his name being utilized for both good and evil?
So here it is. A short little intro chapter to what I believe will be a much longer project or perhaps just a one shot. Let me know what you guys think and if you want more.
The Wasp Presents: Caesar's Ghost
"Caesar- Thy evil spirit, Brutus.
Brutus- Why com'st thou?
Caesar- To tell thee thou shalt see me at Philippi.
Brutus- Well, then I shall see thee again?
Caesar- Ay, at Philippi.
Brutus- Why, I will see thee at Philippi, then."
Act 1 Chapter 1. Death and Life
Peace. Caesar had found that long elusive word at the center of a beautiful, lush valley. He watched as Cornelius played without a care in the world, chased around by Nova and Bad Ape while the adults supervised.
There was a throbbing pain near his lower right breast, but it seemed distant. Something far away, irrelevant, incomparable to the joy of the scene before him.
Maurice knew there was something wrong. He always did. A quick inspection of his fur confirmed the wound suffered at the human base was still bleeding. Compassionate eyes welled with concern.
'You can't leave us.'
Caesar placed two hands over the giant one of his friend.
"Don't worry…Maurice." He struggled to speak the words through labored breaths. "You are…all…home now. Apes are strong. With…or without me."
A single tear slid down the orangutan's cheek as he patted him twice. The sound of laughing shrieks and delighted hoots were sweet music to his ears. Maurice, the gentle ape famous for his silence, broke it when he turned back to Caesar.
"Son…will know…who…was…father," he slowly annunciated. "And what…Caesar…did…for us."
The two friends, interlocked forever, bonded by the prison bars they once shared, held each other's eyes with the kind of love that can never be broken. As his breaths became more haggard, Caesar, the greatest ape in existence, took one final look at his people. They were free. Free to live as they pleased, to roam, build, create, and do incredible things. He had little doubt this would come to pass even while realizing he would not live to see it.
Make a better world than the one before.
The mountains in their majesty, appeared to bow to their new occupants. The edges of the lake sparkled in celebration. Trees swayed in the wind to show their respect. And in this marvel of nature, Caesar smiled. His mission was now complete.
Come home, came the message riding on a gentle breeze.
Tears dropped from his eyes.
I am home.
The body damaged beyond repair and his lifeforce spent, Caesar closed his eyes and allowed himself to be spirited away.
"Caesar," came a voice. It sounded like Maurice. Or was it Cornelia? He couldn't tell. But the thought of his beloved wife only hastened his journey towards the end. He wanted nothing more than to see her again and their son.
I'm coming, my love.
The light of the valley faded to gray and then to black. The last breath was extinguished and Caesar surrendered himself to death…
….except death was strange. It wasn't how he imagined it would be. He hadn't thought about death at all, really. There had been no time to ponder in the midst of a war for survival. But when the end came, Caesar believed it would be quick. Easy. Nothing to contemplate or do. Just an empty void. Except he did not feel empty. Was he supposed to feel anything at all?
Everything around him was black but there was a distinct chill in the air. The kind that comes at night and puts a shiver in your bones. Was this some kind of magic he'd yet to experience? A trick of the darkness he'd come to know? A sign of displeasure, perhaps.
This cold grew stronger and Caesar shuddered, wrapping himself in his own arms to keep warm. Another ominous sign that things were not as they appeared. Dead apes should not be able to move their arms.
The darkness, so absolute and enveloping, began to flicker with a strange light. The light wavered in its strength and luminosity. Little white dots twinkled above like stars in the sky…
…except they were stars. In a startling twist of fate, Caesar deduced that he was looking up at nighttime sky.
A pair of green eyes blinked once, then twice, then three times. He sat up and a rush of sound entered his ears- insects chirping their songs, trees softly blowing in the wind, leaves rustling on the ground…
Caesar hardly dared to believe his own eyes. An ape's greatest asset was sharp, acute senses, but he doubted their accuracy at the moment. This wasn't right. He shouldn't be here! He shouldn't be…
Alive.
How? How could it be possible?
Caesar lifted up his hands and stared at them as though he'd never seen them before. He picked at his fur, spreading them across all parts of the body to check this was not a dream. A small pinch confirmed as much. That short, sharp pain was followed by a dull, aching one.
The wound on the right side of his chest. He placed two fingers over it and drew back a small amount of blood. Not as much as before but enough to warrant proper medical attention. But where was he going to find that here? What on earth was here, exactly? Where was Maurice? Rocket? Cornelius? Nova?
Rare panic struck the chimp leader with a vengeance. Its presence inside of him was unfamiliar. Leaders did not panic. Leaders knew what to do and how to act. Apes follow the strongest branch, and he did not feel strong at present. Just completely alone.
Where am I?
The light he'd seen earlier turned out to be a fire some twenty yards away. And there were voices…
Compelled and more than a little desperate, Caesar lifted himself up and stumbled forward through the thicket, wincing when one of the pointy branches grazed the wound.
"...he was first elder. He led with decency, morality, strength, compassion…"
"...Caesar did not have to share a camp with human…"
A deep chuckle followed.
"Yes…the smell is…potent."
Caesar burst through to a small clearing in the vegetation. His sight was a bit blurry but his eyes did not deceive him. Sitting around a moderate sized fire was a large orangutan and a chimp. Clearly, they had not been expecting visitors. Both stood in great surprise.
"Who…are you?" the chimp questioned. His posture was far more defensive than the orangutan, who's shock appeared far more mild.
Caesar tried to find the right words but the words did not come. No words he spoke would have made sense because nothing made sense anymore. Silence followed.
"Where do you come from, stranger?" the orangutan asked in a melodic bass.
"He…could be…one of the masks," the chimp whispered.
The orangutan rumbled in thought. His eyes traveled the length of Caesar's body. "You are hurt." He walked over and threw a massive, hairy arm around him for support.
"Come…I can heal your wound."
He was led over to the large log each of them sat on. The chimp scurried a few paces to the right, far away from the newcomer.
"I am Raka," the orangutan said with pristine courtesy and gestured to the chimp on his right. "This is Noa."
Caesar caught the ape's eye while Raka fumbled through his bag. Orange sparks danced about in them as they held an intense, weary gaze. He saw fear…and great pain.
He gave a grunt of discomfort as Raka began to apply an unknown herbal remedy to the deep cut. There was a fiery, burning sensation followed by a soothing coolness.
"That…should stop the bleeding. I will apply a bandage."
Grateful, Caesar allowed himself to exhale a sigh of relief when he caught wind of another creature. The body shape and lack of fur were unmistakable.
He stared at the human for as long as his energy would allow. She was female. Young. Covered in grime, shivering underneath a thin blanket, she was a picture of vulnerability and helplessness. Except the eyes. Bright blue and wide, they burned with the same potency as the fire in front of them.
"Oh, excuse me. Where are my manners?" Raka said with a hearty chuckle. "Meet our…companion. Nova."
At the word 'Nova' the world became too much for Caesar to bear. Slumping over, he lost consciousness.
Reviews are most welcome and encouraged! I hope you all enjoy and should this prove to be popular with people, I'll gladly write more.
~The Wasp