lilfluff

This is to my own prompt to my January Bingo Prompt call.

Title: Succession Crisis
Warnings: Minor language, crisis unresolved
Length: 1602 words
Genre/Setting: SF, random colony world

I'm not sure yet if I'll write more of this. But when I started turning around the Succession Crisis prompt in my head this is where it lead...

Credric looked through the door's peephole and walked away even as the knocking continued. Sitting at the table he turned up the radio's volume and returned to his homework. He was copying notes into his tablet on the history of Landing Bay when the phone rang. Sighing he picked up the receiver.

"I believe I've made my opinions clear already Mister Johnson. Tell my father I'm not interested."

"Please my lord, I need to talk with you. I must talk with you."

"Tell father I won't change my mind."

"That's why I need to talk with you. Please, prince Cedric, allow me in."

"Five minutes. That's all, then you go."

* * * * *

Ronald forced the grin he wanted to make into nothing but a twitch at the corners of his mouth. The guards closed and relocked the doors behind him as he entered the Senior Council chambers. Stopping at the edge of the carpet he nodded his head slightly to Lord Councilor Maguire.

"The Council recognizes Prince Ronald. If you would share with them what we spoke of earlier?"

"It does not please me to speak ill of family, however my youngest brother's most recent misstep cannot be ignored."

Predictably it was Lord Councilor Tobias who spoke up. The man didn't like Ronald but he had always found Prince Cedric far more tiresome.

"The boy is an embarrassment, but what can he have done that is worthy of the council's time?"

Ronald's lips twitched again as he turned to the page at the side of the room, "Please display the file named new member announcements."

The room was silent for several seconds before Lord Councilor Lewis, who had defended Prince Cedric in the past, spoke up. "This is accurate?"

"It is, and there is worse."

* * * * *

Opening the door he repeated what he'd said on the phone, "Five minutes, then I'm returning to my research paper."

Johnson didn't answer, instead pulling out a fat palmtop tablet, checking the screen before hanging a sonic scrambler on the doorknob. Still checking the screen he moved through the apartment placing more of the devices.

"Are you planning to run out the clock? You're down to four minutes."

When Johnson finally stopped and looked up from the screen his mouth opened and closed in a few false starts. "Prince Cedric, what news did you expect your father to receive?"

"Certainly you've heard by now?"

"I fear I've been distracted."

"I have officially joined the Abolitionists. Donated enough to be named a Gold Chair member. Three minutes, if you have something to say I suggest you do so."

"Damn, this will complicate things. The Council will be furious."

"That's rather the point. I didn't want to go this far but now that it's been done? Father will have no choice but to disown me and I'll finally be free from The Great Game. We can make up later but for now... what?"

"Prince Cedric, this has not yet become public but it will soon. Yesterday evening your father officially declared you his heir."

"What, why would," he shook his head, "it doesn't matter. The Council won't stand for it now they'll demand he revoke it."

* * * * *

"He's going to do what!"

"Lord Tobias, please allow the prince to finish his statement."

"Thank you Lord Councilor Maguire. As I said, I received word this morning that father is planning to officially declare Prince Cedric his heir. Given my younger brother's troublesome associations I thought it best to bring word to you so the Council may act before it can be made official."

"I may have defended Prince Cedric in the past, but clearly he is not fit to hold the office. I move that the Council refuse to recognize him as the heir and further strip him of his title."

"Young man, we can certainly do the first, but the second? No Council has ever stripped a member of the royal family of their title. I'm unsure if the Charter even permits it."

* * * * *

"Prince Cedric, I fear that isn't the worst news. It has been a closely held secret, but three months ago your father was diagnosed with a highly malignant cancer. Given the current political conflicts this was only revealed to his closest supporters on the Council."

Cedric found himself back in his seat, tablet clattering to the floor and no memory of moving. "No. He can't be, not yet..."

"I'm afraid your father died a little over an hour ago. The news will get out soon, we need to get you back to the palace before then."

"No. The last call... I said... He can't be gone."

Johnson's phone began chiming.

* * * * *

Ronald's lips twitched again as Lord Councilor Maguire marked down the official tally. "On the issue of Prince Cedric being named heir to the throne we are unanimous. The Senior Council will inform the King that we neither approve nor accept the prince's status as heir. Further we insist that he name for us an acceptable heir by the end of this Council term. On the matter of Prince Cedric's status a majority voted to strip him of all titles but we were not unanimous."

A snort from Councilor Chang got a glare from Maguire, but as annoying as the brat of a brother was Ronald agreed with the elderly lord who was the Senior Council's parliamentarian. Better to force father's hand than give the revolutionaries grounds to claim that it was The Council that was out of control.

"As agreed without a unanimous vote we will instead issue an official statement of rebuke. It is one matter for a private citizen to speak in favor of those rioters, but for one of the King's own children to join them? Shameful, we must--"

A loud knock interrupted Lord Councilor Maguire, even as the guard conferred with his partner outside a gasp came from their page.

* * * * *

Johnson checked a message on his phone and swore before grabbing Cedric's arm, "I'm sorry my lord but there's no more time. The news has broken, this building will be crawling with press and worse within minutes."

The prince barely grabbed his laptop before Jonson had him on his feet. "Seriously? Campus security won't allow them--"

"There are less than twenty security officers within a mile of this building. They'll be outnumbered by the press before they even realize what's happening. When you are safe and sworn in you can fire me if you choose, until then I'll carry out my orders."

Johnson's grip didn't loosen, the senior Royal Family Guardsman was barking orders over his phone while rushing them both down the stairs. Three more guardsmen joining them before they reached one of their armored aircars. As they lifted off he could spot a news van already driving towards the dorm building.

* * * * *

Prince Ronald watched as the Council panicked. Maguire banged the table trying to catch the other councilors attention, the noise barely heard over their raised voices. As their voices finally softened Lord Councilor Lewis stood.

"We can no longer demand the King name an acceptable heir. We have already rejected Prince Cedric but we cannot afford to leave the throne empty during this crisis."

"Surely you don't suggest we accept him after all, not with his latest insult to all of us and decent people."

"Of course not. I said it before, he has shown himself to be unfit. But someone must be accepted as heir and before anyone foolish enough to support him can make people think it has already been decided."

* * * * *

Prince Cedric hadn't set foot in the palace in over a year. His arguments with his father over politics had made his campus apartment more of a home and refuge than the palace had been in years. Now despite the servants and staff who swarmed about upon their arrival the place felt empty.

"No, no that won't do. Daniels, fetch one of the prince's suits."

"The ground lanes are clogged with press trucks, so far there has only been one violation of palace airspace."

"Is the North Hall ready yet? We need him on camera now, not in an hour, now. The Council is getting ready to make their own announcement. Move!"

It was everything he'd remembered about press conferences and worse. He'd never had to change clothes in the prep room right outside the hall before. Rarely had he been expected to speak at one, not since contradicting his father's own policies on camera eight years before. He could hear his father's secretary speaking in the hall while four different servants poked and tugged at his suit trying to make it perfect.

How could his father have gone from cursing him to naming him heir in only days? Damn him, he didn't want this responsibility. None of the family, none of the lords seemed worthy of it, least of all himself. His last act would have gained attention and then a comfortable exile. Damn him for dying.

* * * * *

The general watched the recordings of the press conferences yet again. Both sides were quietly sending demands that he publicly support their man. The legal staff were arguing louder than the politicians about who the law supported and damned if he could see a choice that wouldn't split the army. Quiet consultation with the navy said they had the same problem.

He'd never before been tempted to pressure the courts but if they'd hurry up and rule on the petitions the two princes supporters had filed. The riots in the west had started again and now everyone was frozen waiting to see who would be setting policy.