Birth of the Planet of the Apes

Developments

The last of the bridges were taken down earlier that morning. Malcolm heard the distant echoes of the C4 blasts all the way from their room in the Drisco, each sound a dark reminder of what Fremont had been driven to by the panic.

Just one run-in with an ape and their whole world had gone to hell. Just one ape. In an entire year! One would think that after such a long time there would be at least some slight ebb at fears. Clearly not. You leave a water balloon soaking untouched for too long and one tap can make it explode.

He looked up from his desk out the window and sighed. The view used to be spectacular, with the expanse of green from the park and the trademark towers of the Golden Gate glaring red through the fog in the distance. Now, it was just a field of weeds covered in barbed-wire and the bare bones of the once proud icon of San Francisco. He stared at it for what seemed like hours until the pain in his chest drove his eyes back to the inventory papers in front of him. That bridge was the closest physical connection he had had to his son and now it was gone. All he had left was the hope that he would hear the sound of his voice in their short call-ins every day, and even those he felt like he was losing.

Malcolm glanced back up and sighed again. Though he would never forgive the colonel for what he had done, he couldn't deny the results that transpired after. Such things were hard to ignore.

After the first two bridges were destroyed and word spread of the plan for the others, the people of the colony had almost rejoiced. Riots stopped, food and weapon stores were left untouched, and those who threatened to leave remained in the 'safety' of the city. The promise of protection that Fremont and his men sweared to keep still seemed to be intact, at least for the moment. If Caesar ever found out what they had done he'd most likely see it as a defensive action for war and who knows what he would...

A hard rap on his front door caught his attention.

"Yes?" he said harshly. He didn't want to be bothered in the middle of discussions with himself.

"Colonel Fremont requests your presence at The Tent, sir," a man on the other side replied.

Malcolm rubbed his hand down his face and groaned into his palm. Why did Fremont want him now? The man obviously didn't need him and had practically put him under house arrest after the Golden Gate was taken down for fear of him running off to find Alexander. What could he possibly need him for?

A group of full fisted knocks came, "Sir."

"Alright, alright. I'm coming!"

Malcolm grumbled as he stood from his chair and met the soldier at the door. The man was massive, just as tall as the gorilla that had met him the first time he went to the colony and just as threatening to look at, with his M-16 out on his chest and a fire in his scowl. However, Malcolm noticed, there was an air of youth behind that scowl that told him the tough façade wasn't as threatening as it seemed.

"So..." he glanced at the soldier's name badge, "...Cody. Why just the one bodyguard? Isn't regulation two or something?"

"You're not a prisoner, sir. I'm just here as an escort."

Malcolm smirked and rolled his eyes, same difference. "What is it that Greg wants to see me for?" he asked.

Cody let him exit and took a position slightly to his left behind him, "I'm not at liberty to discuss it, sir."

"Not at liberty or you have no idea?"

He didn't see Cody's face but he heard an almost annoyed snort and a bell was instantly rung in his memory.