Phillip walked through the burning capital city with his soldiers and relief workers. The rebuilding of his birth planet had to begin, starting with his own image. He forwent his usual attire that included battle gear, combat boots, and weapons holstered to his body. Dressed in all white from head to toe, Phillip rapped himself in a spectacular onyx colored cloak embroidered with the binary suns. He proudly wore his family's coat of arms. It was his heritage that had been stripped away from him. This two year campaign was to right a magnificent wrong. He was the one true king, the might of royal blood flowing through his veins. The king dispersed his soldiers throughout the city. They were there to keep order but also to spread the news to survivors that food and supplies would be provisioned in the town square by the king himself. The people came slowly. Clearly battle-weary and broken the citizens watched from afar as Phillip beckoned them to receive their provisions.
"Come, there's nothing to fear! Your king wishes to help you! Come and be whole again."
The people stood frozen in place, unconvinced by Phillip's proclamation. Others who were brave enough backed away from him and tore for their dilapidated homes.
Phillip adjusted the crown on his head. He ran his fingers over the jewels that adorned the replica of his father's crown, reigniting his legendary anger. The thought of his father's crown resting on the head of that philistine Richard disgusted him. His sister was a fool for marrying him and thinking that they could co-rule this planet. Lorelei as the youngest of the two of them was raised as a consort, should she choose to marry, and not as a regent. She was afforded a superb education but was never formally prepared for regency. Phillip adored his parents. They made him and Lorelei the center of their universe. He received the education needed to one day rule his kingdom. But his father stressed that being a ruler was more than the ability to speak alien languages and broker treaties. Although many kings and queens won their crowns on the battlefield, might wasn't enough to keep their crowns. Character sustained a monarch. The deeds that a man performed when he had no audience were the complete measure of a man. Empathy should always prevail.
The self proclaimed king recalled his father's words. They were meant to advise Phillip when as a young prince he was sent to a duchy to help settle a taxation dispute. The people were growing angry and outwardly spoke of rebellion against his father. Instead of being angered by them his father explained that they had a right to voice their concerns. In an act of good faith his parents sent him and a small delegation to start negotiations. Phillip thought his father to be foolish but obediently followed his orders. He would take Karen with him to the duchy. They were promised to one another since infancy. She too needed to learn how to relate to the people if she were to rule at Phillip's side. Even as teenagers they proved to be a striking couple. Phillip grew tall and extremely handsome, a far departure from his lanky awkwardness as a boy. Karen, who was always exquisite with her long wavy dark hair and olive skin, put anyone she met under her spell. Phillip, while thoughtful but stern, his queen to be was a comforting presence with her unrelenting kindness.
Before he departed he remembered playing with his five year old sister and promising to bring her trinkets from journey. Phillip took her out on horseback. He didn't mind her loose brown locks whipping him in his face as he urged his steed to run faster. The joy in her laughter made him feel right with the cosmos.
"I can't wait until you come back big brother so I can be in your wedding. It's going to be the greatest. Karen is going to look so pretty!" Lorelei squealed when they stopped to toss rocks into a lake.
The next time he would see Lorelei would be minutes before he presided over her execution several years later.
When Phillip and his delegation arrived at the duchy he and his delegation were met with a raging mob. They hurled anything within reach, severely injuring an emissary in his party. She had a head wound. The prince noticed clear liquid streaming down one of her ears. His doctor quickly examined her and concluded she had a skull fracture. The crowd took a position to storm.
"What do we do?"
Bewildered, Prince Phillip looked at Karen, his betrothed, and saw her fear. He had no idea what to do. The defiance could not be tolerated. He would not allow his father to come off as weak. He would not come off weak.
A stray laser bolt from the mob sailed past Karen's head. The prince snatched her up in his arms protectively.
"What do we do?" Another member of their party shouted as the delegation tore for their ship.
Thirty years later the question remained the same.
"What do we do your highness?" A relief worker asked King Phillip.
"Viva King Richard!" a voice cried out from the crowd.
"Usurper!" Shouted another voice.
Startled, King Phillip tried to identify his hecklers. There were too many people gathered.
"Pretender!"
The insults rained down on him. The spirit of boldness grew within the townspeople.
"What do we do?" The relief worker asked again.
King Phillip remembered the charred bodies layering the duchy he visited as a young man. And thirty years later the answer was still the same.
"Kill them. Kill them all."
Astonished, Milton, the king's priest and advisor shook his head vigorously.
"Do not do this, King Phillip! You must gain favor with the people of your planet!" The priest pleaded.
The king stared blankly into the priest's face. He pulled out his communicator and gave the order.
"Kill them. Kill them all."
The king's ship burst from behind the clouds. Glowing raindrops fell from the ships belly. The cries made Milton squeeze his eyes shut. Scores of bodies fell to the ground as they succumbed to the nerve agent. Phillip was pleased but not content. His rule would never be respected if he did nothing about this insolence. He would not rest until Richard and his children were extinguished.