Prologue
2100 Hours. Northern Border, Pridelands
The distinct bom bom bom sound of a helicopter awakes many in the Pridelands. All of them scatter as a black "flying object" appears in the night sky. It was a MH-6 Little Bird light helicopter. Usually these agile birds were armed with Gatling guns or had Special Force Operatives sitting on the "benches". Today however, the chopper's rear cabin wasn't even full.
Only three men were on board. They were Dornaus, Dixon, and Anele. The three of them were on a search and rescue mission to find and locate Simba's cub, Chaka. He had gone missing since morning after running off without his father's permission. All three had Gen-3 NODs to help them navigate through the darkness without a searchlight. Every single piece of equipment worn by them were on loan from Dixon's Private Military Company along with the chopper.
"Appreciate the help, both of you." Dornaus thanks. "If not for this wonderful piece of machinery and a pair of eyes in the back I'd be running around in the dark."
"Don't sweat it." Dixon responds. "I'm doing all this because I owe you an eternal gratitude for pulling me out of the shit in Iraq."
"Wait, you two served together?" Anele asks from the rear passenger seat as he continues to scan the ground below. "I thought Dornaus was in Team Six."
"He and I were in Team 3 before I jumped and we served in the same platoon in Iraq."
"Anele." Dixon pipes up from the co-pilot seat. "You have that 60 loaded?"
"She's hot sir."
"Good. Remember, no shooting the cub."
"Sure we don't want to get thermal?" Dornaus asks.
"Of course we could! Let's spawn a thermal scope with magic!"
"Okay okay, cut the sarcasm Dixon."
While the chopper continues its search in the sky, down on the ground Simba was leading a search party of his own. His friends in the air might be able to see far and wide but Chaka was still a young cub and could easily be missed, even with Anele's hunter eyes. As the night progressed, the hope of finding Chaka within the borders dimmed. There was only so much they could comb before they would reach the boundary and if he wasn't found by then, they would have to venture into the danger zone
Simba and Nala would do anything for their little one but going out into the outlands at night presented a big risk, especially for the king. He had been a target of Zira ever since he banished her and she was dying to kill him at this point. A bad feeling suddenly hits the king. Did his son bump into Zira's pride and end up on their menu simply because he was the firstborn child of the king?
That the lion didn't want to think of too much. He shoves the gut feeling aside and presses on with the search. Just then, Pumbaa's extremely enhanced sense of smell picks up a scent and it leads him to a set of tracks. He shouts to Simba who proceeds to turn the search party in the direction of the tracks. Timon uses the radio mounted on Pumbaa's back to communicate with the chopper.
"Mako, this is Charlie." He reports, trying his best to sound "military like". "Pumbaa has found a set of tracks, over."
"Copy." The human answers. "Don't worry, Simba. We'll get your cub back."
"Err; you want me to pass that onto Simba."
"Do what you want."
The chopper banks in the direction of the tracks and moves ahead of the group. Zazu flies up to Dornaus and showed him where the footprints led. As the chopper continues ahead, Dornaus could see the tracks were leading him towards a cave. It was way beyond the borders but he had no choice. Finding the cub was the mission and for him, the ends justify the means.
He lands the chopper and disembarks. With the controls left in Dixon's hands, Dornaus enters a cave after arming himself with a Colt Model 733 carbine from the helo. The sound of water dripping down the stalagmites could be heard as the human carefully made his way through the cave, carbine shouldered and selector in the "Semi" position. Thanks to the NODs he wore, the insides were as bright as day, albeit in a shade of green.
A dark silhouette catches his attention and the human slowly advances on it. When he got closer, Dornaus could see it was a lion cub. No… It can't be… His heart quickly sinks when he finds out that the cub was in fact Chaka. The poor thing had been badly wounded after being ambushed by Zira and her pride, and only escaped because they saw a more satisfying meal; a herd of Wildebeest.
"Chaka?" the human spoke gently. "Can you hear me young prince?"
"Solid… Copy." He answers weakly. "Dornaus…"
"Oh you poor thing."
Judging by the looks of the wound and the condition he was in, Dornaus realizes there was nothing he could do. The cub was too far gone to be saved and the only thing he could do was to be by the youngling's side as he passed. He cradles the wounded Chaka in his arms and sang "Amazing Grace" softly. A few minutes later, Simba and the rest of the rescue party enter the cave just as Dornaus finishes his song.
When he saw his son in the bodyguard's arms, Simba rushes over. By the time he got there however, Chaka was long gone. The last one to see him alive was Dornaus and he was already in tears, mainly because he felt he failed his responsibility as a bodyguard. Twice he allowed a member of the royal family to die, first the king himself and now the heir to the throne.
Simba nuzzles the body of his dead son before proceeding to comfort his wife Nala. She was in ruins. The first cub of hers was dead, all because she did not keep a close watch on him and let him slip out unnoticed. Not wishing to disgrace himself any further, Dornaus silently makes his way towards the exit. He succeeds in eluding the lions and reenters the chopper
"Dornaus?" Dixon spoke. "Everything alright?"
"Just fly." He answers. "I think I need a few beers."
"What happened?" Anele questions further.
"Chaka died."
There was silence in the Little Bird chopper as it took off and headed in the direction of Cape Town. Everyone on board was at a loss for words and the shock they felt when Dornaus told them what happened hit them like a ton of bricks. All of them needed a breather, and definitely a few shots.