Koba's Planet of the Apes (Book 1) {COMPLETED}

Chapter 5: Leverage

{Koba's POV}

Over the next few weeks, time was spent coming up with a strategy to attack the human city. After some convincing, Devon told Koba and his council what he knew. Layouts, population number, how armed the city was. It didn't seem too bad, Koba deciding to sneak his army in and attack during the night, while the humans were sleeping.

"Humans be taken by surprise," Koba grunted during one meeting. "Off guard, then apes take city, and guns." His council seemed to approve, though he noticed Devon always looking nervous when the topic of attack was being discussed. Ignoring it for now, Koba went through with the meeting before concluding it. When it was done, he looked over at Devon and signed. 'Follow me.'

Devon blinked. "Am I in trouble?" Koba snorted and shook his head. When they were in Devon's den, Koba turned to him. The human blinked, saying "Koba, I don't think we-" The words were paused upon the bonobo raising his hand. A moment passed before the ape spoke "Need... secrets. Human city secrets. Need guns." Devon sighed, and simply snuggled into his chest, hugging him. "Just don't hurt more than you have to, please?"

There was silence for a long time. Eventually though, he nodded slightly. The thought of making Devon sad didn't sit well with him. "Will not kill many. Take prisoners. Need workers." He felt Devon's grip tighten slightly, listening to him murmur "Prisoners."

"... workers..."

Devon pulled back to look at Koba. "Promise? I understand that they won't be... equal, but please don't treat them like trash, like they treated you." Koba nodded slowly, and Devon purred softly, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to the other's lips.

And of course, some idiot had to interrupt them before they could do anything more. Koba pulled away from Devon to glare at Grey. "What?"

'Humans spotted. Followed us.'

Koba stared blankly. So, the humans wanted to try and spy on them? They probably wanted their guns back. Grunting he raised his hands to respond. 'Find them, and bring them to me. Alive if you can.'

He glanced over at Devon, who looked relieved that the humans would not be killed just because. Koba knew his apes wouldn't tolerate much attack though, and would most likely kill the humans if they killed any of the apes. Sighing, he walked out of the den and out into the open with Grey and Devon. Grey left to go and give the order to capture the humans, those going taking horses and spears, though a few were given a gun just in case something happened.

"Aren't you going with them, Koba?"

Koba shook his head. Instead, he herded Devon back into the den.

{Grey's POV}

Having left with the apes to go capture the humans, Grey sat atop one of the horses as they slowly moved through the forest. The humans had to have known that they knew now, so they were probably hiding. No matter. They obviously followed to try and get their weapons back, but they would retrieve nothing.

'Spread out. Find the humans.'

The apes simply turned and disappeared into the bushes and trees, leaving Grey and Otis to continue on their way. It took a while before anything happened. Hearing movement, Grey looked to the left and raised his rifle. He glared into the trees as a human came out, arms raised and hood pulled over his head. He recognized the clothes though as one of the humans who followed.

The human male slowly stood up, flinching as Otis pointed his gun too. "Please, I don't mean any harm. I'm looking for a chimpanzee. His name is Ceasar?"

Grey grunted, then watched as the human pulled his hood away. Tilting his head, his eyes narrowed. He knew the human, or at least remembered him. When they first got to the Redwoods. Turning to Otis, he raised his hands. 'Ride back. Tell Koba that we have found Caesar's human.'

Otis turned and rode away, leaving Grey to lift his head and holler aloud. The loud yell immediately called the other apes to him. And more humans, who had been caught. Grey turned to Caesar's human, and signed.

' You speak sign?'

The human nodded.

'Is this all of the humans?'

The male nidded, and Grey huffed. 'Follow.' Turning his horse around, he led the way back to camp. Oh, Koba was going to love this. Hopefully there was now some form of leverage over Caesar with this human.

Upon getting back to camp, Otis walked up to the group, eyeing the humans before signing. 'Did not tell Koba yet. He is busy with his human.'

Caesar's human spoke. "There are other people here? Is Caesar here?"

Grey simply ignored him. After a short while of waiting, Koba walked out of Devon's den. He paused upon seeing the group, teeth bared.

Grey blinked. 'Where is Devon?'

Koba responded. 'Passed out. What is this?'

Grey sighed. 'This human asks for Caesar. Do you remember him?'

{Koba's POV}

Staring at the human, his eyes narrowed slightly. "What is your name?"

The humans seemed surprised he could speak. The lead one hesitated before answering "Will."

"You are... Caesar's human?"

Will nodded, then looked up as Devon slowly made his way out of the den. He rubbed his eyes with a free hand, the occupied hand cradling Biscuit. Upon seeing the other humans, his eyes widened up and he hurried over. "It's been years since I've seen other people! I'm-" Koba looked at Devon, who blushed and murmured "sorry."

Will looked around. "Is Caesar here? When I heard there was a tribe still running around, I traveled back."

Koba snorted. "Caesar not here. Koba in charge."

Will looked disappointed. "Is he... dead?"

Koba simply signed. 'I wish.' Turning to Grey, he continued. 'Take these humans to a pen. Keep an eye on them. Then send apes out to tell Caesar. I will meet in two days.'

As Grey left, a few more apes joining him in herding the humans away, Koba walked with Devon to where they usually hung out in the open, under one of the big trees growing in the camp for shade. Devon leaned against Koba, Biscuit contentedly purring in the human's lap.

"You're not going to hurt them, are you?"

Koba looked over at Devon. 'Hopefully not. They are not who I am after.'

Devon sighed before looking out across the camp, Koba also turning to watch the new humans get put into a pen, with guards standing outside. The sight made him smile slightly. It brought back memories of when he led the apes to war against the humans that one night. The next morning, so many of them were imprisoned like the apes once were. That would never happen again though. Koba refused to be put in a cage.

"Koba? You're tense."

Koba grunted, and looked over at Devon's worried expression. Easing up, he tried to relax. It only lasted for a moment though. His brows furrowed when Devon asked "Um... can I... go talk to them?"

"Why?"

Devon bit his lip. "It's just... I haven't seen another person in years. I don't want to free them or tell them anything about this place. I just want to... talk. As people."

Koba grumbled. He didn't want Devon talking with them. He wanted him to stay where he was. However, the big, pleading eyes broke the bonobo easily. "Fine." Devon smiled happily and gave him a quick kiss before collecting his cat and getting up. Koba watched him walk up to the pen. Will curiously walked up to the barrier, and they immediately started talking. Biscuit even got in on the interaction, Devon letting the other humans touch and hold her.

Grey then walked over. 'Otis took four apes to go to Caesar. All we do now is wait.' Koba nodded once before dismissing him. Sitting back against the tree, he went back to watching Devon talk with the new arrivals. Hopefully they wouldn't be staying long. Koba didn't want Devon spending a lot of time with them. Perhaps it was jealousy.

Whatever it was, Koba welcomed it. Just like he welcomed the leverage that was escorted into his camp. And hopefully what he had in mind went perfectly. Smirking slightly, he closed his eyes to doze off and eventually fall asleep.