The Box

Chapter One: Questions

Cornelius carefully dusted off the space he had been working on for over a week, and now the day had finally come to see what had been buried for who knows how long. Gently excavating with his dexterously long, brown fingers Cornelius removed a box. It was like no box he had ever seen before; it seemed to be made out of some strange metal substance. Turning the box over in his hands a few times Cornelius's sharp eyes noticed a latch.

On first impulse his fingers started to flip the latch, but then stopped. It wasn't that he didn't want to know what was in the box, because he did. There was just something that told Cornelius that right then was not the correct time. Quickly Cornelius stuck the box in his bag, and looked around to see if any of his comrades had seen him.

Later that night Cornelius sat in his tent looking at the box in the lantern light. It was made of finely crafted metal and had been welded together at the corners. The box was obviously durable, but the metal seemed to be very thin. Thinking of what might be in the box made Cornelius's imagination catch on fire and run away on tangents. His fingers itched to open it, but now was not the time.

"What have you got there?" Cornelius jumped. He had not heard anyone approach.

For some reason Cornelius felt a little ashamed for not having told anyone about the box, but he was the leader of the expedition. "Oh, just a box I found," he tried to pass it off as nothing unusual, but it was obvious to Milo that his friend had found something special.

Milo was Cornelius's peer by just a few years, but had not started studying at the Academy right after graduation, like Cornelius had. The first term of Milo's first year at the Academy he had been placed in the same dorm as Cornelius, who had already completed one year. By now they had both graduated from the Academy and Cornelius was an archaeologist and Milo…. Well, he wasn't sure what he wanted to do. And when Cornelius had invited him to go on the dig he had jumped at the chance.

"Just a box?" asked Milo as he raised his brow.

"Yes."

"What's in it?"

"I don't know."

"It won't open?"

"Oh, it will," Cornelius waited as he expected his friend to ask him why he didn't open it, yet the question never came. Instead Milo sat down next to Cornelius on the make-shift cot and waited patiently for an answer. He knew from previous experiences that if he waited long enough Cornelius would eventually crack and tell him everything he wanted to know. The hardest part for Milo was curbing his natural curiosity.

For some reason Cornelius knew that the box contained something special that was meant for him to find, and that it would not be right to share with just anyone. Finally after quite some time Cornelius spoke, but it was not what Milo had been expecting to hear. "I am sorry Milo, but I just can't open it right now. Actually, I think that I will go find something for dinner and then go to bed."

Even though Milo was extremely disappointed he understood. "It's alright, Cornelius, I'm not sure that I can completely understand, but this box…" he paused, "was meant for you." With that he stood, "I think that I will follow you example and go to bed early tonight. Good night, Cornelius."

"Good night, Milo."

A few days later they finished the excavation and headed for home. Neither Cornelius nor Milo had brought up the topic of the box again, for they both knew that the right time would come to speak of it.

"There's Ape City on the horizon!" Shouted on of the students Cornelius had brought along for help.

"Almost home," remarked Milo dryly.

"You don't sound excited."

"Cornelius, you of all people should know that I will never fit in anywhere."

Cornelius couldn't say anything because it was true. Milo was odd, and for that the other apes did not value his great mind, but thought of him has some weird freak. Never at any time in his life had he ever fit in anywhere.

"I suspect that Zira will be glad that you're back."

A smile crept onto Cornelius's face at the thought of Zira, and then a blush. He loved her almost more than life its self, and he planned to ask her to marry him soon. "I'll be happy to see her too."

"Why don't you take leave of this party and ride on ahead. I'm sure that we can manage to get all this back to the Academy without your help."

The idea was tempting, but as the leader Cornelius felt that it was hid duty arrive with the artifacts, "Thank you for the offer, but I need to show the Academy that I am responsible."

Finally every single last artifact was unloaded from the wagon and Cornelius was absolutely exhausted. By now it was too late and he was too tired to go see Zira. He was barely able to stay conscious long enough to stumbled to his apartment and fall into bed.

That night Cornelius dreamed strange dreams of far away places where humans were in charge. Then the dream changed to a time where apes where forced to bow to human superiority and work for them. Needless to say when Cornelius awoke he was very trouble. The box sat on the chair next to the door where had placed it last night before he had fallen into bed. Some sixth sense told Cornelius that the dreams were somehow related to the box, but he couldn't figure out why.

The sunlight was peeking out from underneath the window blind. Cornelius stretched and tried to forget the stranger and vivid dreams that he had had all through out the night. Finally, after regaining a bit more consciousness Cornelius threw back the covers from his bed and found a clean change of clothes.

After a quick breakfast Cornelius decided that he should probably visit the museum to make sure that all the artifacts were stored properly. As he was about to leave, a sudden impulse struck him and he opted to take the box with him. With quick precision Cornelius snatched a leather satchel and swiftly stuffed the box into the bag, and then set off towards the museum.

"This should go here… oh, no no, that goes over there," Cornelius mumbled to himself as he categorized different artifacts. 'Is that were I asked you to go? No, I said that you belong there." It was not unusual for him to talk to himself or to different items, but to most people it must have seemed a tad strange.

"How did your latest archeological excavation go, Cornelius?" Cornelius spun around to find the Academy's Minister of Science, Dr. Zaius looking down at him.

As Cornelius had spun his hand had caught on a bucket of tools and had knocked them crashing to the floor. "Oh, I'm sorry sir…" he stammered and was obviously quite flustered, "I didn't hear you come in."

"Hum," was the only comment Zaius offered Cornelius.

'I wonder why he is here. It is unusual for him to be interested in anything other than religious things or brain surgery. What does he want?' wondered Cornelius as Zaius poked around through different boxes filled with artifacts. Patience had never been one of his strong points and now that Dr. Zaius had disorganized a box of historic items it graded on Cornelius to know why the esteemed doctor was there. "Uh, is there anything I can help you with, Dr. Zaius, sir?"

"No, no I don't think so. Very interesting collection you are requiring."

"Thank you, sir."

"I'm looking forward to see how your career progresses. Good day, Cornelius."

Poor Cornelius was too flustered to say anything until Dr. Zaius was almost out the door, then he called: "Good day, doctor and thank you!"

This meant that if Dr. Zaius approved of his expedition there was hope that the Academy might allow more extensive journeys in the future. Excitement welled up inside Cornelius so much that he could no longer wait. He had to see Zira.

"You're back," Zira's tone of voice did not express any emotion; she was simply stating a fact, but this did not damper Cornelius's enthusiasm. He knew it was nothing personal.

"Yes, and I can't tell you how happy I am." On impulse Cornelius picked Zira up and spun her around.

A grin broke out on Zira's normally serious face. "What has gotten in to you?" she asked once her feet were back on the ground.

"Dr. Zaius, he-he… I think he's gonna approve my next expedition!" the words burst forth from Cornelius.

"And to think that I thought you were happy to see me," a small pout appeared.

"Oh," Cornelius blushed, "I'm very happy to be with you again.

Zira had no intention of allowing him to get off the hook that easily. "Really? How happy?"

"Happier than you can imagine," Cornelius shuffled closer to Zira. Her familiar sent wafted into his sensitive nose.

It unnerved Zira to be standing this close to her unofficial beau. Custom demanded that they have parental permission before embarking on any relationship other than friendship. And Cornelius was definitely closer than a friend would be. "That happy," whispered Zira, she was sure that he could hear her heart beating rapidly.

"Yes," his voice came out lower than usual. Impulsively he bent down and claimed Zira's lips with his own.

Shock registered on Zira's face after Cornelius pulled away. "Cornelius! We're not even engaged yet."

"Yet. Not yet," he murmured, it gave him a special pleasure to see the habitually calm Zira flustered by a kiss.

"Zira!" A voice floated into the barn.

"Oh, what does Lana want now?" Lana was Zira's older sister by five years. "Coming!" she yelled in reply. "I'll be right back."

"Don't worry, I'll be here," with that Zira left and Cornelius sat down on the seat of the cart that was parked in the barn. After a few minutes of deep thought Cornelius noticed something unpleasant that was sticking into his side. Of course… the box! He had managed not to think about it all morning. Was now the right time to open it? Cornelius was broken out of his reverie as he heard Zira and her sister "discussing" something in loud voices.

"Zira, how ungrateful can you be! After mother died and I practically had to raise you all by myself-"

"So father had no part in raising me."

Lana didn't even stop for her sister's comment, but kept on going. "All I'm asking is for you to watch Lucius for a few hours."
"Would you listen to me for just a moment?" Zira shook her sister's shoulders. "I know that you and Simon need some time to yourselves, but Cornelius has just gotten back from his first 'official' expedition and I'd like to spend some time with him."

"Fine you and Cornelius can come over at five and watch Lucius for me and Simon." Zira started to say something but Lana plowed ahead. "I'll see you both then. Goodbye!"

Dejectedly Zira returned to the barn where Cornelius was waiting. "Oh, she is so…uh!"

"That bad?" Cornelius stood in the door of the barn.

Zira stopped her tyrant for a moment. "Actually, yes, she is the bad. I suppose that you heard that we will be watching my nephew tonight. Do you mind too much?"

"I think I'll survive this one time."

"You might, I'm not sure that I will."

Cornelius frowned. He knew that Zira did not have a good relationship with her sister, but he hoped her nephew would bring them together. "I'll see you tonight. Goodbye for now."

"Cornelius, I thought you were staying for a little bit."

"I have some things that I need to talk with your father about. I'll see you at Lana's. Five o'clock, right?"

"Yes."

"I'll be there."