Episode 5: Marquis Monarchy Utopia 

Sophie Bradecich

It has been almost a year since Marquis’ reign as king of OCSA began. The new engineering conservatory he established at the start of his rule has already created flying cars and has been hired by Apple to create the newest, freshest line of all their products. But Marquis’ overthrow of OCSA rocked the school. Students and faculty alike were inspired by his revolutionary attitude. 

Sitting in the dark recesses of the first floor Tower, where only the Serenity Center-goers dwell, a police officer’s mind raced. Corporal Graham was one of the few that still remembered his friends' early days: a friendly security guard who still had the time to pop by the Tower office, or chat in that parking lot. Since Marquis was crowned king, the only time Graham got to see his old pal was when Marquis called him in for work-related talks. 

The loneliness led Graham to question how Marquis even became king, and create a detective-style, sticky note-ed, red string-ed office. To calm himself down, Graham visited the Serenity Center, where Dawn Spranger picked his brain. 

“Corporal Graham, why are you so stressed? Even the calming sand and fidget toys can’t seem to relax you.”

“Ms. Spranger, do you remember when Marquis became King?”

“Well of course, but I don’t see-”

“How did it happen?”

“Well, wasn’t there that one principal before, Mr… Mr… Something?”

“Mr. Ciecek,” Corporal Graham remembered. 

“No, he is one of Marquis’s loyal knights.” 

Corporal Graham suddenly rushed out of the room, and into his office, where he yanked down all the string connecting his thoughts. But the string didn’t fall as he intended. It pulled back. Corporal Graham followed the force of the string down the hall and back to that mysterious staircase near the back door to the first floor. There, he found fallen principal Michael Ciecek.

“Mr. Ciecek, I remember now. It wasn’t always Marquis that was king. It was you. You were the principal.”

Corporal Graham expected a sigh of relief, maybe even tears. But instead, Ciecek laughed. “Well of course I was principal. I still am.”

“What?”

“Corporal Graham, do you not read the emails? We sent out so many Aeries communications announcing the administrative change. Marquis is our king, but everything else remains the same.”

“Oh.”

“I appreciate your concern Mr. Graham, but I am doing just fine—and so is the school! Look around! Have you seen a better OCSA?”

It was then that Corporal Graham took the time to appreciate the beautiful changes his friend brought about. He ran up the stairs, skipping the opportunity to take the elevator to meet his friend on the seventh floor. 

“Marquis!”

“Officer Graham?” Marquis looked up, startled. 

“I am so proud of you. And I am so proud to keep this school safe. I just miss you and I miss us.”

Marquis walked over to hug his friend. “Pops on Friday?”

“You know it, Sire.”