The Kingdom

Chapter Eighteen

 Silence filled the room as Reilious laid on the floor, surrounded by medics. Some of his face and body was burned and torn from the explosion, a large crack-like line running along the side of his face, going straight through his eyeball. Blood seeped through the opening, creating a curtain of liquid oozing from his face to the floor. Talia paced beside the small group, occasionally looking at the remains of the king in hatred.

The king was also on the floor, and the walls as well. His body now ended just above his torso, skin, muscle, and bone ripped and cracked where his chest used to be. There, his royal purple robe turned a crimson red. His blood was splattered across the ground, walls, and throne from the explosion, bits of flesh and bone landed in clumps on the floor. His skull lay cracked in the corner, split in almost a perfect half as his skin was ripped from it, some pieces of muscle and blood caked on it.

The small group of medics picked up Reilious and began walking out of the room. Talia and Deryle followed, waiting outside as an ambulance sped up. The power had returned and citizens walked out of the buildings, confused. The rebels had begun piling the Royal soldiers that had died, tossing them aside. Two rebel soldiers put the ambulance drivers at gunpoint, forcing them out of the ambulance and letting the medics put Reilious inside. The ambulance sped off, leaving Talia and Deryle behind.

"He's gonna be alright," Deryle reassured her.

"Mhm..." Talia responded, then walked over to a group of soldiers to begin telling orders again.

Deryle walked back inside and up into the throne room for cleanup, and saw Reilious' helmet, lying on the floor near one of the computer desks. He walked up to it, looking it over as other soldiers cleaned the remains off the walls. A soldier walked up to him.

"Excuse me, Mr. Thunderfield, Mr. Johnstone has passed away," the soldier said.

Deryle looked at the soldier, then back at the helmet. He ran out of the room, remembering Talia.

He rushed outside, looking for Talia. He heard crying, knowing it was her, he followed it until he found her sitting on the tailgate of one of the trucks. He ran over, to her, her face buried in her hands.

"Hey," he greeted, not sounding too happy himself.

Talia looked up, streaks going down her face from the tears. She got off the tailgate and hugged him, burying her face in his chest.

"Is it true? Is he really fucking gone...?" she asked him.

"I'm afraid it might be," Deryle replied. "At least we won..."

"But we don't have a leader, one of us is gone," she said.

"We are the leaders, we can get through loss," Deryle responded, trying to be positive.

He held out the helmet to her, and she looked at it. She slowly reached out and took it, staring at the painted skull, chips of paint had come off from the explosion. She wiped the tears from her eyes again before walking off.

Deryle watched her go before walking up to the group of generals. "What do you guys suppose we do now?"

"We must figure out a new order of command, and honor the ones lost," Scorch replied.

"I suggest that it's me in first command, and Talia in second. But until she gets back onto her feet, Scorch, I want you to be my second in command," Deryle responded.

"Thank you, sir, I won't fail you," Scorch said.

The group walked into the building and into the meeting room. Inside, they sat at the table as rebel technicians got the technology back online.

"Alright, Deryle will have to be King for no-"

"No kings. I, well, Talia and Reilious as well, wanted this new government to be democracy. This includes having representatives from West Kolari, Prospirto, and the rest of 'em. These factions will be able to become states, instead of one large kingdom to rule by myself and a few others, it will be ruled by many, and people will vote for what they want to have," Deryle interrupted.

"Alright," another general nodded. "I like that."

"All for democratic government chain, say 'Yay,'" Scorch announced.

Everyone said "Yay."

"None opposed, we can move on to our next item. Honoring the fallen," Scorch said, looking at Deryle.

"Don't look at me automatically, it's a democracy, look around," Deryle replied.

A general raised his hand. "I say a memorial should be made outside the Capitol Building."

"Alright, any other ideas?" Deryle asked.

"Burial yard only for soldiers of this attack if their families don't have anything specific for them already," another general suggested.

Deryle nodded, looking around. Nobody said anything else. "I like those ideas. When we are able to contact the leaders of the factions, tell me."

A technician gave a thumbs up, going back to their work.

Deryle began writing down a report on the meeting as the generals moved on to other military plans.

THREE WEEKS LATER...

The country had gotten back into order, the New Order having lead well so far. The economy had risen, alliances had been made, and everything seemed to be getting better for the country. Insert harp transition

Talia sat down at her desk, putting down a binder she had been carrying. She had finally gotten over the mission into the Capital three weeks prior, with the help of many therapists. She had not been ready for that much to happen at once, but Reilious dying had sent her over the edge. That was now all behind her, and Deryle had worked with her to lead the country.

She opened her computer and went to the city filing program, writing on a document. She grabbed a cup and took a sip, realizing only after that she was out of coffee.

"That was smart of me..." she mumbled to herself, laughing a little.

She got up and walked out of her office, running into Scorch.

"Oh, sorry, ma'am!" Talia exclaimed.

"It's quite alright, Mrs. Zykalo," Scorch replied.

Talia nodded and walked down the hallway to the cafeteria. She walked up to the coffee maker and poured some lukewarm coffee into her cup. She saw Deryle walk over as she put the cup in the microwave.

"So, slow day for you as well?" Deryle asked.

"Yeah, nothing new. This isn't as exciting as I hoped," she replied with a chuckle.

"Let's hope something happens soon, I guess," Deryle said. "Have a good rest of your day."

"Thanks, you too," Talia replied.