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The Prince and his Whipping Boy

A sinister and tense silence filled the huge throne-room.

Riff Raff had the sudden feeling of being buried alive. He was not able to make out the queen`s face, but he felt her killing glance resting at him.
"He created life?" the queen repeated, stretching every single word as if to make everyone in the throne-room feel it`s bitterness.
"It confirms the truth, your highness," Riff Raff replied, still looking up to the throne.

Silence again.

Then the queen bent forward so now her wrinkled face was illuminated by thousand of candles.
"You know that we are suffering from overpopulation," she snarled slowly and Riff Raff blinked.
He didn`t dare to say a word – it was like he was petrified with fear.
"You know about that, don`t you?" the queen suddenly snapped. "Answer me!"
"Yes, your highness," Riff Raff reluctantly said. He didn`t want to be again blamed for the things the spoilt prince had to be responsible for, but he knew that he would be the one to be in charge, no matter if the prince was alive or not. He was the prince`s body servant. What a couple! The prince and his whipping boy...
"So, you knew about it," the queen repeated, narrowing her eyes. "You knew about it, but you didn`t do anything to help our nation! The only thing you thought about was to become famous! Tell me how, by the Holy Moons, should my Frank be able to rule a planet that is threatened with overpopulation? Tell me how your scientific research would help our planet? What were you thinking, servant?"
The queen was talking herself into a rage, but Riff Raff was used to this behaviour.
"I want to explain if you don`t mind, your highness," he started and the queen nodded slightly.

Riff Raff glanced at his sister, then cleared his throat and took a deep breath.
"First we tried to conquer the earthlings, but had some difficulties," Riff Raff started to explain. "The earthlings are a very... peculiar species and somewhat... difficult to handle. Still, we had the feeling that it would be worth not to abandon all hope. That`s why we decided to use them to create our own... earthling."

Silence.

The queen lifted her brows.
"Your own earthling?" she repeated slowly and Riff Raff ducked his head.
"We... we thought it to be a good theme for the prince`s scientific graduation and that one day we would be able to... replace the original earthlings without their knowledge," he managed to say. "Due to their inferior genetic constitution the earthlings are dying very fast. They are of no use," he added hesitantly, but contrary to his momentarily condition still dared to look up to the queen.

The queen stared at him as if he had gone insane.
There seemed to be a sudden fall in temperature. Everyone in the throne-room had the sudden urge to hide somewhere as far away as possible. Gusts of wind were wailing threateningly through the cracks of the old palace`s masonry. Apart from that, the whole planet seemed to eavesdrop on the interrogation in complete silence.
"In parallel, we were working on the 'Medusa' to... persuade as much human creatures as possible," Riff Raff went on as if nothing had happened.
The whole planet now seemed to hold its breath. Even the gusts of wind stopped wailing.
"So, you want me to believe that you were still following the mission`s objectives?" the queen`s voice now sounded quite irritated.
"Indeed, your highness," Riff Raff lied without hesitation. Truth to be told, in personally he had never had the intention to conquer this ridicules planet – let alone living there. Yet, Frank always wanted to be the ruler of the earthlings. He always wanted to rule everyone and everything. That`s why he had forced Riff Raff to beef up the 'Medusa'.
Riff Raff`s thoughts were wandering back.

'"Make it more powerful!" the prince stomped his feet and kicked a tool that was lying beside Riff Raff.
The servant was kneeling in front of the Medusa, trying to fulfil his master`s every wish.
"It`s a little complicated," he explained and tightened a screw. "It could be dangerous."
"I don`t give a damn if it is dangerous or not," Frank shouted. "I just gave you an order and I would appreciate you to just follow."
"But we don`t know what will happen if..." Riff Raff started but was cut off.
"I just gave you an order," the prince`s voice now sounded threateningly quiet. He looked down at his servant, his eyes sparkling with danger.
"As you wish, master," Riff Raff lowered his eyes and took a pair of pliers.
If the Medusa would be useful enough to capture just a few earthlings at the same time, then Frank probably would be satisfied...'

"Then why, by the Holy Moons, were you creating new life?" the queen`s confused voice broke in and it was clear that her own confusion angered her.
Riff Raff knew that he would have to distract her from the obvious contradictions. Otherwise the interrogation would become pretty awful.
"May I explain, your highness," Riff Raff answered but continued his speech without waiting for a response. "Creating life is still an unsolved mystery in our galaxy. It has always been the most interesting riddle for every scientist. A scientist that would be able to create life would also be able to...," Riff Raff paused there for the dramatic effect. Yet, he was quite successful.
It seemed that everyone in the throne-room, every candle and even the walls were bending forward to have a better look.
"It says that he would also be able to... rule everything."

The last sentence clung to the air like a chewing gum would cling to long and beautiful hair.

The queen leaned back so her face was again covered with darkness.
Magenta threw a glance at her brother. She felt absolutely proud of him. Just a few minutes ago he had been a stammering picture of misery, but now Magenta could sense that her brother had regained his composer.

"We will talk about the details later," the queen suddenly pronounced without any emotion. "Now I want to talk to my son."
Riff Raff and Magenta exchanged glances.
Then Magenta looked up to the queen and bowed slightly.
"Prince Frank is still asleep by now," she said. "We have order to not wake him, your highness."
"Well then...," the queen said and Magenta felt that she was thinking about her last comment.
A few seconds later the queen bent forward.
"If my son doesn`t want to be disturbed, then you have to obey," the old queen stated in an arrogant manner.
Then she rose and marched gracefully down the stairs. She stopped right in front of the siblings.
"Go and prepare everything for my son`s awakening."
Without any further look, the queen left the throne-room – followed by a whole battery of guards.

Riff Raff and Magenta looked at each other and smiled.
Well done!
Then they both turned and walked out of the huge dark room.

Outside the castle, the siblings were greeted by a stinging cold.
They looked at each other with a satanic smile and lifted their arms simultaneously. Their arms touched – going up and down. The sign was necessary for them both to regain power.

Then, without a further word, they headed towards the old castle.