The figure stepped into the room. "You may call me 'your Majesty'," Daddy Zach replied in mock seriousness. "Or just Zach, if you prefer."
Smith sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "I see you've done well for yourself… Zach." He hated using the abbreviated, much less distinguished version of his name, but he wasn't about to call him 'your Majesty'. To avoid confusion, he thought he'd best get used to using that name.
"You were right, Zachary. Once the Andronicans realized it was I, and not you, that they'd brought back here, they could not sacrifice me. Fortunately for me, they'd already had my coronation and pronounced me King. They were stuck with me, as it were. As my first official act, I abolished the tradition of Sacrificial Kings."
Smith nodded. "A shrewd decision."
"They were not happy with the deception, however. I'm afraid there are those who are quite angry with you."
"Angry… with me?" Smith queried. "Why?"
"As a clone created with only your best qualities, I was above reproach. They believed it was you who corrupted me and convinced me to sacrifice myself to preserve your life. They blame you for abolishment of the tradition of Sacrificial Kings. I am a 'useful creature', as they say, and therefore they cannot direct their anger toward me. Instead, they have directed it all at you. Despite my best efforts to quell the ill will toward you, there is, I'm afraid, a price on your head."
Smith brought a hand to his throat and swallowed hard.
Zach placed a reassuring hand on Smith's shoulder. "Never fear, my brother. You are safe here in the palace."
Smith's eyebrows raised and he spoke so softly it was almost a whisper, "Brother?"
"We are twins, are we not?" Zach smiled. "I believe that makes us brothers."
"I…I've always wanted a brother," Smith confessed.
"Well, now you have one. Oh, but where are my manners," Zach apologized. "Let me show you around the place."
Zach left the room, walking briskly, and Smith followed quickly behind. As they walked, Zach talked into a device on his wrist and Smith craned to see the technology his brother was using.
"Locus, I would like to show my guests around the palace. You know how I value my privacy."
"Understood, your Majesty. You and your guests will not be disturbed," she replied. As soon as Zach was done making his request known, she contacted Rhyf to empty the palace per their King's wishes.
They came upon a set of double doors reminiscent of the French doors in Smith's great aunt Maude's parlor. Zach pushed them open and gestured for Smith to enter first, which he did eagerly. "You've already seen the bedroom. I figured we'd start with the rest of my living quarters."
Before him spread an impressive and stately living area. The design and furnishings appealed to his aesthetic sense, from the plush divan to the roll-top desk to the Louis the 16th style chairs. It was as if Zach had raided his own brain to decorate the place. Smith ran his hand along the back of an extremely comfortable looking overstuffed chair that sat in front of the largest stone fireplace he'd ever seen. He had plans for that chair that involved spending an inordinate amount of time relaxing in it, possibly in front of a warm, roaring fire.
Smith's gaze wandered toward the far end of the spacious suite. The view overlooking the valley, as seen through a transparent wall, was breathtaking. There were steps leading down to a pool which started inside and continued on underneath the transparent wall to a courtyard and lush garden outside. Smith quickly calculated that his entire house on Earth could fit in this space. There was nearly every amenity, every desire he could want, an enormous library, some sort of computer, musical instruments, collections, and entertainment and diversions of every kind.
Smith leaned against the mantle of the fireplace, his arms folded. "You've been living like this for years?" he asked, unable to hide the awe and envy in his voice.
Zach took a seat in the overstuffed chair. "Well, not entirely. You see, the palace was much smaller when I arrived on Andronica. After all, it was only temporary housing for the king until he was sacrificed. They insisted that if they were to have a full time king instead of a sacrificial king, I should have permanent living quarters befitting my position. Who was I to refuse?"
"Oh, I'm sure you resisted vehemently," Smith chuckled.
"I may be made without your worst faults, dear brother, but I seem to have inherited your desire to live well. Unlike you, however, I come by it honestly."
Smith's brow furrowed and he frowned. Zach immediately knew he had wounded him and apologized. "I'm sorry, Zachary. It seems I am brutally honest at times and though honesty may be a virtue, tact is even more so. My sincerest apologies."
His hackles still a bit raised, Smith went on the defensive, "What would you know about my life?"
"You forget, I am a copy of you, Zachary. Oh, the worst traits have been removed, but I share all your memories and experiences, up until the moment I was created and we became separate beings."
Smith withered at the revelation. He knew everything. And he was honest! It was only a matter of time before the others learned.
Zach sensed his anxiety. "Be at ease, Zachary. I may know what you did, but I also know why. I understand you better than anyone. I can no more indict you than I can indict myself, for I am just as guilty."
Smith shot him a puzzled look. "You? Guilty? But you had nothing to do with it. You weren't even around then."
"I am made from your essence. I AM you. We may be separate beings now, but I was once a part of you," Zach reasoned.
"This is all too…"
"…strange?" Zach interrupted.
"Yes. It's as if I'm talking to my…"
"…self?"
Smith sighed. "I AM talking to myself… and finishing my own sentences."
"It could be worse. You could be doing that without me…"
Smith chuckled and nodded his head in agreement, but his smile quickly faded, "I don't care how solid your reasoning sounds, Zach, you are not responsible for my actions." He paused, as if he was struggling to get the words out. "This is something I must bear… alone."
The admission surprised Zach. No excuses, no blaming someone else. Perhaps in the few years they'd been apart, the Robinsons had had a positive effect on the wayward doctor.
"Do you want me to have an excuse to protect you or not?"
Smith cocked his head slightly, not quite understanding.
"It's very simple, Zachary. My instinct for self-preservation is stronger than my sense of justice. Were I not also at fault, I would have to ensure justice was served."
"Oh… yes, by all means, preserve! Preserve!" Smith blurted out. He completely understood Zach's strong instinct for self-preservation. He'd inherited it from him. As much as he wished Zach to not be touched by those actions he now so strongly regretted, knowing Zach knew what he'd done and yet still wishing to protect him lifted a weight off his chest.
Zach laughed at Smith's outburst. Truth be told, he had no desire to see Smith imprisoned or worse and needed no excuse to protect him. He did, however, hope that his brother would see the error of his ways and he wasn't above putting a little fright into him to keep him on the straight and narrow. He really did understand Smith, the lonely and tumultuous life he'd led, and he felt sorry for the man. Besides, it amused him to see Smith's reaction.
Zach stood up and motioned toward the courtyard outside. "As much as I would love to sit and chat, we haven't finished our tour." He walked toward the roll-top desk and removed an item from one of the drawers. Handing it to Smith, he commanded, "Put this on."
"What is it?" Smith queried, hesitantly accepting the item.
"It identifies you as the king. It will allow you access to every area of the palace, even secure areas with forcefields," Zach explained. "You'll need it for our tour."
Smith examined the item, which resembled an ornate shackle identical to one around Zach's wrist. He turned it over and over, looking at it from every angle. He looked up at Zach, his expression asking "You trust me with this?"
"Put it on," Zach urged again.
The doctor complied and he felt a curious tingle as it seemed to "activate".
"It analyzes your DNA when you first put it on, a security measure to make sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Since we have the same DNA profile, it accepts you," Zach explained.
Zach removed his shackle and locked it into the desk drawer.
"What are you doing?" Smith asked, his voice betraying his anxiety.
"There can't be two kings at once, especially with the same DNA," he smirked. "Our security system would indicate a malfunction or worse if two people were wearing those for any length of time. Since no transfer of power has been scheduled, it's best if I remove mine. We wouldn't want another… incident."
Smith's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "But… why give it to me? Why not keep yours on?" You know I can't help myself! Surely, you'll know what I'll do with this! Smith thought. Besides, I imagine impersonating the king has dire consequences! Smith began to panic. He grabbed his wrist and was about to wrench the shackle off, when Zach's hand clasped his tightly and prevented it.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. There must be someone wearing the king's shackle at all times. You are now the king." When Smith's deer-in-the-headlights expression didn't change, Zach leaned in and whispered, "It's what you've always wanted, isn't it? Wealth… power… a kingdom to rule?"
Smith examined the shackle again, giving it some consideration. The thought of being king both exhilarated and frightened him. Still suspicious, Smith asked "What's in it for you?"
"A break," Zach answered quickly. "Bearing the responsibilities of a king is not easy, Zachary. Keeping the peace amongst my subjects, making decisions that affect the lives of millions, it all takes its toll. I'm tired," he admitted. "I have everything I could ever want… except freedom. This majestic palace," he swept his arm in a wide arc, "is my prison. I would like a chance to actually see my kingdom without handlers, security guards, throngs of people all demanding my attention. You would be doing me a favor, Zachary, allowing me the opportunity to be a normal person again… if only for a little while."
"You tricked me," Smith stated. "You knew if you'd told me all of this before I put this on, I might not have accepted it." Another morbid thought entered his mind. What if they hadn't done away with the tradition of Sacrificial Kings and Zach had promised to deliver him to the Andronicans. No, he wouldn't do that, would he?
"True," Zach admitted. "I have been unfair. I will give you a choice. We can switch back if you prefer."
The doctor thought long and hard, conflicting emotions warring within him. Fear battled greed, sympathy fought ambition, his conscience wrestled with the knowledge of his character flaws. "It IS everything I've ever wanted. There was a time when I would have jumped at this chance. There was a time when I would betray those I loved most to get this," Smith admitted ruefully.
Zach smiled. Just the fact that Smith admitted that and was weighing the decision carefully impressed him. Zachary truly had matured a bit since he'd last seen him.
"Are there any safeguards?" Smith asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, if I should… if the power should prove…"
"Too tempting? You want to know if there's a way to save you, and us, from yourself," Zach clarified.
Smith confirmed quietly, "Yes."
"No, Zachary. The only thing limiting your power is your conscience. As long as you keep everyone convinced you are me, by your words and your actions, you will not be opposed. As long as you remain useful, they will not suspect you. If you should be discovered as an impostor, well, I don't think it will end well for either of us."
"I see," Smith replied. "And what if you should be discovered, wherever it is you plan on going, without the shackle? Aren't you taking a serious risk? They might mistake you for me."
"Isn't freedom worth risk?" Zach asked. "Isn't gaining everything you've ever wanted worth taking a risk?"
Smith sighed, still unsure if this was a wise thing to do, given his track record. "It would only be temporary?" Smith asked.
"Only temporary. A few days, maybe a week."
Smith seemed to relax a bit. "I suppose, strictly as a favor to you, mind you, I can handle the responsibilities of king for a short while, provided you educate me on the finer points of Andronican culture."
"Of course," Zach replied. "And you will have to enlighten me on your exploits with the family Robinson after we parted ways."
"Indeed," Smith agreed.