Chapter 9: Getting to Know One-Another

Meanwhile, With Code Red, Kion and Mzuri…

"So, uh…" Kion said, trying to start a conversation now that he and Mzuri were alone.

"You have no idea what to say, do you?" Mzuri asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh, no." Kion said, mentally slapping himself. He needed to look confident, not stupid. "Sorry, it's just… I've never really done this before."

"Done what, before?" Mzuri inquired.

Kion shrugged. "Talk to girls. Sure, there's my sister and her friends, then there's Fuli, but…"

"They're not your age." Mzuri guessed. "And Fuli is a cheetah."

Kion nodded. "And while there are girls my age in the Pride Lands, I'm usually busy leading the Lion Guard."

Mzuri nodded. "I figured as much. Otherwise, I've got a feeling every girl on Pride Rock would be chasing after you. I know since all the boys do the same here."

Code Red, whom up to this point had been silently watching and listening, immediately thought of Kiara. She had dealt with a few suitors in the past few months, yet the presence of Code Red had seemed to ward them off.

Code Red's fists clenched as he thought of Kiara. Just like usual, Kiara was slow to leave his thoughts, even when he had other things to do. Yet still, although it hadn't even been a full day since he had left Pride Rock, he missed her like he'd been gone for a lifetime. Maybe that was what happened when you had a friendship such as the one he shared with Kiara.

He shook the thought out of his head, or as much as he could do so, before turning his attention to the two lion cubs he was currently shadowing.

"So, tell me about your family." Mzuri said.

Kion nodded. "Well, you already heard about my father, Simba. My mother… I guess you could say she's one of my biggest supporters. Then again, isn't every mother like that?"

Mzuri nodded.

"As for Kiara, well, she's an amazing sister, if a bit stuck up, sometimes. She's also Code Red's best friend." With that, Kion gestured back to Code Red.

"I'll make sure to remember that remark you made concerning Kiara." Code Red warned, which elicited a groan from Kion.

"Someone's in trouble." Mzuri gently teased.

Later…

"Alright, all of this walking is starting to grind my gears." Code Red remarked. "Anywhere we can just sit about and be lazy?"

"Well, seeing as we're in my pride's den, we can laze around essentially anywhere." Mzuri said as she hopped onto a rock and laid down. "Want to join me, Kion?"

Kion nodded and leapt up and lay down next to Mzuri, whilst Code Red sat down nearby.

Mzuri sighed in satisfaction. "Nothing like relaxing in the sun. Especially on a day like this."

Code Red nodded. "Can't argue with that. Me and Kiara sometimes do the exact same, when we've got a bit of spare time."

Mzuri nodded before looking to Kion. "What do you do in your spare time, Kion?" She asked.

Kion shrugged. "I usually play Baobab ball with my best friend Bunga." He replied.

"Oh? Is Bunga a member of the Lion Guard?" Mzuri asked.

Kion nodded. "He was the honey badger. He's also the 'bravest' of us."

"Although, you could replace brave with stupid." Code Red said. "Because then you have the perfect description of Bunga in certain situations. I'm certain most of the Lion Guard agrees with me."

"You're speaking as if you don't like him." Mzuri said.

"I don't dislike him." Code Red retorted. "Most of the time, he's a cool cat. It's just in some situations, he jumps in balls first without any forethought." Looking at Kion, Code Red said. "Like when he jumped into that sinkhole to save your old man and got himself trapped down there with him."

Kion nodded. "But, he's my best friend. I wouldn't be who I am now without him."

Code Red smirked. "Too true, Kion."

Kion smiled. Looking to Mzuri, he asked: "So what so you do in your spare time?"

Mzuri looked about. "Before those other members of Code Red's kind attacked, I used to just play in and around the area of my pride's den. Now, I still play, but I stay within the confines of the den."

Code Red frowned. Mzuri's statement was a direct reflection of his fear regarding what would happen if full-scale war erupted between the Autobots and Decepticons in the Pride Lands. Looking at Mzuri, Code Red said: "You'll be able to do that again soon enough, Mzuri." Gazing about, Code Red added: "In the meantime, how about you and Kion play something?"

Mzuri smiled. "In that case…" Patting Kion on the shoulder, she said: "Tag, you're it!"

Code Red smirked as he took his leave. He had a call to make.

In the main hub of Malka's Pride Den…

"Shockshot, it's Code Red. We've safely arrived at Malka's home, and we're currently searching for the Decepticons. Anything on your end?"

"No Decepticon has ventured into the Pride Lands since your departure, Commander." Shockshot replied gruffly. "It appears they are biding their time."

"Good. The less chance of a battle on two fronts, the better." Code Red remarked. "How is everyone?"

"How about you ask them yourself?" Shockshot asked, before a familiar voice filled Code Red's servos:

"Code Red? Are you there?"

Code Red smiled immediately at hearing Kiara's voice. "It's me, Kiara. Are you alright?"

"Besides missing you terribly? Yeah, I'm fine." Kiara said. "Daddy's not here at the moment, and Mom is off hunting. So I can talk all I want."

Code Red smirked. "That's fine. Tell Simba that he's a snow-maned jackass when he returns."

Kiara laughed. "You bet, Red. How is Malka's anyway?"

Looking around, Code Red said: "It's beautiful. Not as beautiful as the Pride Lands, but… it's a close second."

"Anything you can tell me about my baby brother and his romantic ventures?" Kiara asked teasingly.

Code Red smirked. "Apparently, you can be a stuck up bitch." He remarked.

"What? He actually said that?" Kiara asked, shocked.

"Not all of it." Code Red replied. "I just added the 'bitch' part."

Kiara scoffed. "Of course you did. That aside, what do you think of Malka's daughter?"

Code Red nodded. "She's got a good head on her, that one. I think you'll like her. Not sure whether she would like you, though."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kiara demanded.

Code Red chuckled. "Well, I never said Kion was wrong." He said with a smirk.

"Hey!" Kiara said indignantly "Name one time I have been stuck up."

"Kiara, do not tempt me. You know I can bury you with a few words if I wanted to." Code Red warned.

"And here I thought we were friends." Kiara said.

"Like I told you last time you said that, friends are allowed to rib one another from time to time." Code Red replied.

"It's hard for that to be the case when it's a mostly one-sided ribbing." Kiara said.

"Relax. You've had some bangers every now and again." Code Red replied. "Soon, you'll be just as good as me, and we'll have the entire Pride Lands laughing at our back and forth banter."

"Looking forward to it." Kiara said. Sighing, Kiara added: "I miss you."

"I miss you too, Kiara." Code Red replied. "Hopefully, all this will be over with in a day or two, and then we can go back to terrorizing the Pride Lands. One day, we can sit down and laugh about all this shit."

Kiara nodded and said: "I'd better go. I think the hunting party's returning."

"Go." Code Red replied. "And tell your mom I said hello."

"Will do!" Kiara replied cheerfully as she came off the comms.

Shockshot's voice once more came on to the comms. "I've notified Optimus of your absence, so he has agreed to station Bulkhead and Wheeljack here as extra protection."

Code Red nodded. "That's good news. I was worried I was leaving the Pride Lands unguarded when I left just you and Side-Arm."

"Your concern is appreciated." Shockshot replied. "How fares the quest in Malka's domain?"

"I have Doubletake reconnoitring the area as we speak. He'll come back as soon as we have more information." Code Red said. "May be that we'll be finished within the week."

"I'm certain of it." Shockshot replied. "I've seen your handiwork when it comes to dealing with Decepticons. It speaks for itself."

Code Red nodded. "Good. Anyway, I'd better get back to what I was doing. Keep me notified of any future developments. Code Red out." With that, he cut the connection. Hopefully, Wheeljack, Bulkhead and Shockshot would be enough.

Code Red was about to turn back and rejoin Kion and Mzuri when the sound of a car engine filled Code Red's servos:

Turning towards the noise, Code Red sighted Doubletake, who transformed and walked towards his commanding officer. "Anything?" Code Red asked.

Doubletake shook his head. "Scoured the entire area. Nothing. Maybe he's upped and headed back to the Pride Lands with his tail tucked between his legs. Certainly saves us a lot of work."

"Keep searching until you're sure." Code Red replied. "I know how sneaky Shadowstreak can be. He may be keeping his head down until any reinforcements Crossfire may send his way arrive."

Doubletake scoffed. "Well, I'll keep doing that, then. At least then I'm actually doing something." With that, he transformed and sped away again.

Code Red scowled, shaking his head. "It's called being sociable, Doubletake. You should try it, sometime." Code Red muttered under his breath as a voice said:

"What's his problem?"

Code Red turned to see Malka's son Afua stood a ways away from him. "Doubletake's always been a bit on the unsociable side." He explained.

Afua snorted. "A bit? Sounds to me like he's very much on the unsociable side."

"Well, he does his job, so I'm willing to overlook his personality for the most part." Code Red replied.

The two were silent for a time before Afua asked:

"How are Simba and Nala? I've been meaning to ask."

Code Red folded his arms. "Simba's been fine, if a little bit of an ass. Nala on the other hand, is still knocking it out of the park at both being a queen and a mom." Looking to Afua, Code Red inquired: "Why are you asking?"

"During my cubhood, I was fostered by Simba and Nala for a time." Afua replied.

Code Red folded his arms before he realised. "That means you must have-"

"-known Kopa." Afua said, grimacing at the mention. "We were the best of friends." He elaborated. "Dad told me you know about what happened to him."

Code Red nodded. "It makes me sick to know that Zira could be so sadistic as to make Kopa's death as slow and painful as she could. As soon as I heard, I made a vow to Nala. I'll make the same one to you: The moment I get Zira alone… the barrel of my gun will be the last thing she sees."

Afua nodded in response. "Make it hurt." He snarled. "Make Zira feel every ounce of pain she caused Kopa."

Code Red folded his arms. "No promises, Afua. I'm no sadist like the Decepticons."

The two were silent for a time before Code Red asked:

"So… what embarrassing facts can you tell me about Malka?"

An evil smile crossed Afua's face. "I knew you were going to ask that." He replied.

Sounds like Malka's efforts to avoid Code Red learning anything embarrassing about him are about to burn to the ground.

But enough of that. On to the reviews:

Adam Carver: It's not really surprising that Afua would miss Kopa. And that he'd want Zira to suffer just as much if not more than Kopa suffered.

Daniel Mathers: Yes, there are plenty of Malka's pride that are still alive. But they won't play any serious role, save for Malka's family.

Guest 1: Fear not. He'll be back. Just not in the manner you're expecting.

Guest 2: Like I said; he'll be back.

Jason Chandler: It's a good thing Pride Rock's big. They'll need the room for all the cubs.

Jestalnaker94000: If this chapter's anything to go by, Mzuri isn't who Malka should be worried about.

Mike Noland: I have a feeling Kion and Mzuri will get together, but I want to give it some time instead of rushing into it.

And that is it for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I figured I'd develop Afua and Mzuri's characters a little bit, since I sort of pushed them off to one side in a way in the last chapter.

With that said, I shall see you next week with chapter ten, where a serious problem arises.

T-Rock14