Our story pt2

Chapter 22: A final stand PT III

In the relatively safety of high ground Trish and Beth with the help of Jordon Maurice and Rocket worked desperately to keep Caesar and the others breathing the amount of smoke they had inhaled was worrying to say the least and their black fur had been singed so badly in parts that you could see the burnt skin beneath fortunately the helicopter that Mark and Garrison had stolen had been equipped with oxygen tanks that were now strapped to every face that had inhaled smoke Koba among others had been dead against using the oxygen masks as they no doubt reminded him of the way Gensys had administered their drug to him and others while he had been wrongly imprisoned there the argument had become so intense that Maurice and Rocket had been forced to intervene before Koba cause Their human saviour any harm

It wasn't until Maurice pointed out that the humans had saved their lives and that they had also been the ones who had enabled Caesar to mastermind their bid for freedom that Koba finally albeit reluctantly backed down once Trish was satisfied that Caesar had a good supply of oxygen she stepped back and took a moment to stare at the blazing fire that had consumed the woods memories of the best times they had spent here hit her like a tsunami and it was only when Rocket joined her that she realised Mark and the silverback gorilla had still not returned

"Still no sign of them" Rocket signed Trish merely nodded and looked to where Becky was perched on a rock gently swaying Trish and Marks baby to sleep she had offered to help on multiple occasions but after a handful of apes had recognised her as a human that had once worked at Gensys Rocket suggested she watch the baby and stay out of the way Trish sighed sadly as Jordon joined their side his bare chest was laced with sweat and a large second degree burn that Beth had been quick to drape in a sopping wet cold rag "still no sign of Mark" he asked guilt and worry was clear in his voice Rocket shook his head in answer "alright I'll take the chopper and try to find them if they're not already dead" Jordon said giving Trish a goodbye hug before heading over to Beth to say his goodbyes

Just as he was about to leave her side Trish spotted another helicopter flying higher than the others and directly toward the three others that were intently setting the woods ablaze her eyes narrowed as she noticed how erratic its flight path was becoming "Jordon look do you think that could be them" Trish asked hopefully a confused expression fell across Jordons face as he studied the way the pilot was flying it was a long shot if it was them but he deemed it worth the risk of finding out "I'll take our heli and try to get close enough to see the pilots if it's not them I'll shoot it down and head back to look for Mark and the gorilla" Jordon said hurriedly Trish and Rocket nodded before Jordon sprinted to the stolen helicopter

Rocket looked over to where Caesar was lying unconscious barely breathing his face partly covered by the oxygen mask the orangutan Maurice had not once left his or the others side he looked back at the humans baby and thought of Luca the heroic silverback had made the sacrifice Rocket himself would have surely made had he been there to shaking his head in determination he clasped Caesars human Allie on the shoulder before dropping to all fours and boarding the helicopter along with the bare chested human who had suffered a nasty injury trying to help them the man jumped in surprise as Rocket jumped into the seat beside him "fancied a ride did you" the man asked sarcastically Rocket shook his head and pointed at the human baby Jordon looked and his eyes filled with sorrowful tears as he looked at where Trish was stood alone

Immediately he understood The chimps mindset and as he began pressing buttons on the control panel his eyes found Caesar who was lying barely breathing on a patch of dirt the others close beside him "Let's go find those two lunatics" Jordon said over the rising sound of the propellers Rocket held tight to whatever he could as Jordon shakily got them high enough in the air to see over the trees the heat below them was so intense that Rocket was grateful he only had small patches of fur to be bothered about quickly shaking off the idea when he began remembering his haunting past from before he was dumped at the shelter the human frowned his eyes glazed over and tearful as they flew closer to the helicopter that was still flying erratically in the distance Rocket spied the other helicopters turn to the side revealing a bulky figure in the back of each stood behind a metal structure bolted to the base a cord hung from the side of it and a horribly familiar hole in the centre