Chapter 5: Plea

As the jeep made its way through the jungle, closer toward the village, scouts hidden within the trees saw the vehicle and followed after it. The jeep reached an oddly empty area, devoid of any plants, grass, or even rocks. Then, out of nowhere, something rammed into the left side of the jeep, causing it to roll until slamming against a tree. Leaving it upside down. Everyone in the jeep groaned, but the driver was unconscious. The soldiers in the back started unbuckling themselves and tried getting out. “You stay here, Doctor!” One of them said. “NO! Don’t attack them!” Dr. Atlas ordered as he too unbuckled himself. Several footsteps could be coming toward the group. “WAIT! WAIT!” Dr. Atlas called out. “WE MEAN NO HARM!” He managed to crawl out and stand up. They were surrounded by seven experiments. Apes. Three gorillas, two orangutans, and two bonobos.

“Why are you here, humans!” One of the gorilla experiments demanded. “My name is Doctor Armin Atlas Jr. Please, I MUST speak with your leader, Ferral Amber.” The group looked at one another, and one of the bonobos scoffed, “We don’t know anyone by that name,” He said, “Now leave, if you all value your lives.” The soldiers managed to get out and raised their guns, the experiments growling and getting ready to attack. “NO! STAND DOWN!” Dr. Atlas shouted. “We’re not here to harm you, I swear! STAND DOWN, YOU THREE!” The soldiers reluctantly and slowly lowered their weapons, relaxing the tension slightly. “Please, the very fate of both man and experiment is at stake. You have to believe me.” The group chuckled, “How could we ever believe, you humans?” “You should just leave. Before we change our minds.” Dr. Atlas slowly approached the group, avoiding eye contact, and knelt in front of them, his head lowered. “Please, if you don’t take me to Ferral, we all will be brought to extinction.”

The group looked at one another again, some with raised eyebrows. They looked at the soldiers who avoided looking back. The gorilla experiment that spoke earlier picked Dr. Atlas up by the back of his lab coat. “Very well. But you’ll go alone.” Atlas looked up in joy, nodding his head, “Of course!” One of the soldiers moved forward, “But Doctor! We were ordered to protect you! You can’t just go alone with these freaks!” The apes looked at him in anger. Dr. Atlas turned to them, “It’s fine, everything will go well. You three just stay here and tend to the driver.” They sighed and nodded. He turned his head back, “Okay, let’s go.” The gorilla nodded, throwing Atlas over his shoulder. They all jumped back up into the trees and ran off in different directions, making it so the soldiers wouldn’t be able to follow them easily.

“Is it true what they say?” Dr. Atlas started as they leaped through the trees, “Is Ferral really the strongest experiment to ever exist?” “I still don’t know who you’re talking about.” “What? Is he not your leader?” “Our chief doesn’t have that name.” Dr. Atlas looked confused. “Well, what do you call him?” “We simply call him Chief. He has told us to never address him by anything else.” “I see. I’ve heard many things about him; just locking eyes with Ferral is like staring at death itself. Some have even said that if they can’t see him, they still feel his presence….stalking them.” The gorilla chuckled, “You’re not gonna to get his help, you know that? If you think we hate humans, he despises you.” Dr. Atlas didn’t respond. A small amount of doubt filled him, but he shook it off. He was determined to get Ferral’s help.

They stopped in front of the waterfall, the gorilla throwing Dr. Atlas off his shoulder and onto the ground. He got up and dusted himself off, looking around. “Where is it?” He asked. One of the orangutans pushed him forward, “Move.” He ordered, shoving him again. Dr. Atlas looked at the waterfall and pointed, “Behind there? Interesting.” He started walking toward it, with two of the apes walking next to him. He stood in front of the waterfall for a minute, something didn’t look right. He carefully stuck his hand out and saw the electronic fazing. “It’s fake? Incredible, we haven’t even fully mastered cloaking technology, and you have it all the way out here? No doubt Ferral did this, huh? Amazing.” As Dr. Atlas examined in awe, the two next to him rolled their eyes and shoved him forward, going through the hologram and stumbling into the village. He looked at it in complete amazement; he almost thought he was dreaming. The guards followed him in and stood next to him again. “Hey, shouldn’t have like a sack over my head or something?” Dr. Atlas asked, “So that way the people here won’t see me.” They smirked at him, “That’s the point.” One of them said before pushing him to move forward. As they walked through the village, people took notice, villagers gasping at seeing a human walking through.

Some even throwing stuff at him. Dr. Atlas shielded his face, looking back at the guards who were chuckling, realizing they did this on purpose. Soon, they made it to the large mansion at the center of the village. As the three walked up the steps, the guards at the door walked toward them. “What are you two doing bringing this filth into the village?” A leopard experiment asked. “He wishes to see the chief. Spouting something about all of us going extinct.” “And you believe him?” “No, but it’s not like he’d be able to do much. We’re just humoring the kid.” “Was he alone?” “Yes, there were no followers.” The guards stared down at Dr. Atlas. “Fine, I will go alert the chief. One of you stay here and take my place.” The gorilla nodded and stayed behind while Dr. Atlas, the leopard, and the orangutan walked inside. “Stay here.” The leopard told his subordinate. He nodded, gripping Atlas’s shoulder. Dr. Atlas looked around, admiring the building.

It took a few minutes before the guard came back, walking down the stairs. “Third floor, very last room at the end of the hall.” Dr. Atlas nodded, starting to walk up the stairs on the left while the guards stayed behind. He looked back, “Aren’t you two going to come with me?” Atlas asked. “As entertaining as it would be, we were told to stay.” Dr. Atlas turned back around, gulping nervously before continuing up the stairs. Once he made it to the third floor, Atlas walked carefully toward the end of the hall. He could feel something staring at him, but all the doors were closed. But someone was there, he could feel it, eyes behind him, burning the back of his head. He whipped around, but no one was there. Dr. Atlas turned forward and continued until reaching the door; his hand shook as it reached for the knob. He felt cold, every fiber in his body wanting to run away, but he grabbed the doorknob and slowly turned it. Once he opened the door, Atlas hesitated before entering.

The room was void of any furniture, no lights, but a glass roof that let some sunlight through. At the very back of the room, a stone chair was perfectly centered against the wall. There, Ferral sat with his right leg crossed over his left and his head resting against his left fist. Most of his body was covered by darkness, his right eye piercing through and gazing at Dr. Atlas. He gulped again before walking closer. “E-Excuse me, are you Ferral Amber?” Atlas asked nervously. But there was no response, only the same cold stare. Dr. Atlas stopped, clearing his throat. “My name is Doctor Armin Atlas Jr. I’m sure you’re well aware of my father.” Still no response. “I’ve come to ask, no beg, for your help. Both humans and experiments are in danger, and your superior intellect is what we need to prevent the total extinction of our races.” Ferral stood up, towering over Atlas at 7’5”. 

He crossed his arms, “Why the hell would I EVER help you?” The crimson in his eyes swirled into their blazing red and yellow. “No…I’d rather watch you burn.” He grinned maliciously.