Chapter Eleven

The nightfall following Tyber's victory against Jeff, Tyber was especially tired. Neither Simba nor Nala blamed him; he'd fought the greatest fight of his life, and come up standing. Bringing down Jeff took a lot out of him, however. Vitani was proud to say she aided in that regard, and Tyber did not dispute that. Just after nightfall, Tyber and Vitani retired to what was now being referred to as "their" domicile. They had both grown accustomed to sharing a bed, and they both knew Simba had grown used to the idea, so it was truly no surprise to see them crawl into bed together. That night, Vitani held Tyber closer than before, a big smile on her face. Tyber was sound asleep, one hand holding Vitani's that was wrapped around his chest. He'd come a long way in the time she'd known him. He'd gone from a wounded man haunted by a past he neither asked for nor deserved, to the most militaristic member of the family, empowered by the power of the Force. He had also gotten Kion to accept him, turned the Pridelands' security force to a true Army, equipped said army with technology even his own people couldn't begin to touch, saved Vitani's life, and thinking on everything that has transpired so far, Vitani came to the realization that perhaps she was falling in love with him. But how to tell him? A good question... but not one to wake him up over. He'd earned his rest. So she instead put a tender kiss on the back of his neck. She may not be willing to say it aloud at the present moment, but she could at least express to herself that she loved him. Just thinking of it made her heart swell; perhaps, now, facing the trials of recent times, she could call him her lover. It was a wonderful thought. Perhaps, down the road, she would see herself getting married. Having children. Watching them grow up, and seeing her grandchildren. So many things were possible, now, and she believed Tyber when he said she had been the catalyst that made it all possible. She stayed at his side through his darkest times. She took him in when he had everything taken from him. She gave him a home. People to call family. What would Tyber's own family have thought, she wondered? She knew they weren't always so cruel to Tyber – what would they think of a relationship between her and Tyber? An interesting thought, but one that didn't really matter. She felt that his family would be happy he'd found a soulmate in her. So, with the realization she loved Tyber in mind, she snuggled close and began drifting off to sleep, herself...

/

Vitani woke the next morning to a beep from Tyber's computer. She looked around, seeing the sunlight in the window, and got out of bed grumbling. She put on a robe and went to the room his computer was in, and was a bit surprised when the screen read "INCOMING TRANSMISSION: PRIORITY ALPHA". She frowned, but was still unwilling to wake Tyber up over this. Instead, she walked out into the foyer, where Simba, Nala and Kovu were already enjoying morning meal; Kiara was just getting hers, and Timon and Pumba were just walking in.

"Jeez, you're up early," Timon commented.

"Yeah, I'd have thought you and Tyber would have slept a lot later than normal," Simba agreed. He then frowned, noticing Vitani's expression. "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know," Vitani replied. "Kovu, did the human liaison you spoke to yesterday say he was going to get in touch with Tyber through his computer?"

Kovu frowned. "No... in fact, I never mentioned Tyber had one to him, why?"

Vitani looked to Simba. "Don't look at me!" Simba said defensively. "I didn't know his computer could do that!"

"What does the transmission say? Who's calling?" Kiara queried.

"It doesn't say – just says 'incoming transmission, priority alpha'," Vitani responded.

"Tyber might know," Nala suggested.

"Yes, but I was hoping to not wake him up over this," Vitani said.

"Not much choice," Kovu stated. "If someone is trying to get a hold of him, he should know." Vitani sighed wearily, then turned and went back into her domicile and to the room where she and Tyber had been sleeping. Tyber was still sound asleep. She walked around the bed, to his front, and gently shook him.

"Tyber... Tyber, wake up," she spoke softly. Tyber snorted and woke, looking at Vitani and smiling.

"Did I sleep too late?" he asked.

"Not at all," Vitani replied, returning the smile. "But you have an incoming transmission, priority alpha."

"Priority Alpha?" Tyber yawned as he sat up. "That's... strange."

"How so?" Simba queried.

"A Priority-Alpha transmission is a very important message, one that could not be broadcast over typical channels," Tyber explained.

"Who has access to the means to send such?" Simba asked.

"That's just it; I never gave anyone the means to," Tyber replied. "Does the transmission say who sent it?"

Vitani shook her head. "No, just that it's a priority-alpha transmission."

Tyber shrugged and put on a shirt. "Well, no reason we shouldn't hear it out, whoever it is," he said. He walked into the room, sat down at the computer, and touched a button. "Access Code: Black Viking," Tyber spoke. The screen blinked, and what they saw after was a shock to them all. They were staring at the face of one they knew, red mane and all.

They were staring at Simba himself. "This message is intended for my friend, brother-in-arms, and closest ally, Tyber Drakona. Tyber, if you're hearing this, then two things have come to pass: One, you have defeated your ex-stepfather after he murdered your family, and you are now free from his machinations; and two, Vitani has come to the realization that she loves you," Simba stated, eliciting surprised looks, and causing Vitani to blush. "The latter may come as a shock to you – or not, given recent events. Either way, we'll get to that, but the former, I think, deserves explanation," Simba continued. "I know you likely still have questions, even in the wake of your victory, not the least of which is how you got here in the Pridelands, and how your belongings were salvaged and sent to you. The answer is simple, yet complicated; I am the one who sent you to the Pridelands in the wake of that blast. In my timeline, you had... 'educated' me on the use of your technology, so that I and my family might better use it against our enemy. The enemy I speak of – a Sith we know only by the name of Darth Phospho. We never knew much more than the name, and that he intended to conquer the Pridelands as part of some vendetta. Unfortunately, he managed to get a hold of some of your tech, and was able to go back in time; we think his goal was to kill you before you met us, so that he would have an easier time conquering us. You sent me back in time to stop him. Regrettably, I arrived too late to stop your ex-stepfather, who had been contracted by Phospho to eliminate you. Fortunately, I arrived to save you. You once warned me that tampering with the timeline was dangerous, but I had no choice. I took it further by going further back to salvage your possessions, and I installed a dead man's switch in your computer that was wired to trigger this message when Jeff had been defeated. But again, if you're hearing this, it also means that Vitani has come to realize she loves you, which brings me to my next point." Simba paused, then, as though he knew Vitani was there, shifted his gaze to her. "Vitani, you once told me that you felt for Tyber – loved him, even if he didn't love you. But you were so afraid of telling him, of how you thought it would affect his military career. But nothing could have been further from the truth. Tyber loved you more than either of us could ever express with words. You two have walked the same paths, dealt with the same traumas. You eventually told him, in my timeline, but even you admitted it was far too late. You... you died in his arms, telling him that. Died of a mortal injury, incurred on a mission you and he did together. It was the first you two did together... and the last. He was never the same after you died, and neither was I. I promised myself that, should I go back in time, set things right... I would help you two realize what you have together. Never forget how much you two love each other. Never forget what you have together. Tyber viewed you as a chance to live the life he might have had. He saw you as his other half. He admitted such, after you died. Told me he wasn't complete without you. No matter what you fear of him, Vitani, no matter what might happen, never forsake him. Never be afraid to tell him how you feel. Any relationship involves risk, and as I see it now... you two were meant for each other. What you feel for him, and what he feels for you... it is real. It was meant to be. No matter what happens, always remember: You have each other." Simba's gaze returned to Tyber. "With all that said, Tyber... I feel it prudent to warn you: You may have defeated Jeff, but Phospho is still out there. Your one mistake was that you underestimated him. You even admitted as much. Never underestimate the lengths he will go to to get what he wants. I don't have much, but when this message finishes, you will find some files have been unlocked and ready to view. We never had much in the way of intel on Phospho's goals outside what I have already said, but we did know he was after something, here in the Pridelands. We never found out what before we drove him to try tampering with the timeline. We only got one reference to what he was after – something called The Ark, and we think he believed the key to the Ark was here in the Pridelands. The files will contain the details. And so, my old friend, I bid you farewell. I don't know if we'll ever see each other again, but I know my counterpart in that timeline will appreciate you as much as I do. Farewell... Lord-Admiral." The transmission ended after that. Tyber slumped down in his chair. He finally had an answer. The answer to a question that had burned in Tyber's mind since the night he came here.

"So... it was me," Simba said. "It was me who sent you here. Me from another timeline."

"Different timeline or no, Simba, I owe you everything," Tyber stated. "Strange he would know so much of what happened in this timeline. But he wasn't wrong about me."

"And he wasn't wrong about me, either," Vitani spoke. "I have no idea how he knew it in this timeline, but he wasn't wrong." She looked up at Tyber. "I do love you. I felt it strongly, last night. Felt it since our first date together. I just... I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't know if you felt the same way."

"You and I both know I do," Tyber said, standing up and approaching her. "You took me in when I had nothing. Gave me a home when I had none. A family. You saved my life the night we met. And since our first date, I have been coming to grips with the fact that I love you, too. I would have told you so much sooner, but I didn't want to scare you off. Ironically, I was afraid of the same thing you were – afraid that you didn't feel the same way." Vitani found herself instinctively reaching out to Tyber, who did the same, and they leaned their heads on one another. "You are everything to me, Vitani – not a day goes by I don't think of you. I wouldn't be here without you."

Vitani's heart swelled. They really were in this moment – this life – together. He loved her. He wanted her. Here, at the end of one road, began another, and it was a road they would walk together. "And you mean the world to me, too, Tyber," she told him. "You give me hope. Hope for a life I was beginning to fear I'd never have. You have been tormented, tortured since the moment we met, but of all of us, you chose me. You could have gone with anyone else, but you chose me. A lioness. I had feared you wouldn't."

"Did you forget?" Tyber inquired with a smile. "I have a soft spot for felines." Vitani chuckled, then laughed lightly, looking into Tyber's eyes as though it was her first time. She nuzzled her nose on his, then leaned in to meet him at the lips for their first kiss, and she felt elated as she did so, holding him close and tight enough that she could feel his heart beat with hers.

"That's beautiful," Nala whispered to Simba.

"That it is... but let us leave them alone – this moment is theirs, and theirs alone," Simba suggested. He, Nala and Kovu all left the domicile with broad smiles.

Vitani finally had her soulmate.

(Take heart, this is not the end. I still have to go through Part II.)