Where we last left off...

30-year-old Joshua Washington gets the royal shock of his life when he meets four time-traveling people named Sean Michael Rowes, Maverick Mobley, Jacquelyn Claire Ritterwolff, and Marika Yovenko. They claimed to have come from a world where the 9/11 attacks had occurred and the United States was currently at war. Yet, the cousins also informed Joshua was meant to be the king of the United States. Now he must inform his family of his latest problem as he prepares to assume the throne in Saint Louis, Missouri.

“OK, so remind me again of how I’m supposed to be the king?” said Joshua as he sat up in his living room. Earlier, he had fainted in shock when the cousins appeared in his office and told him that he was to be the king of Columbiana.

“Simple,” said Sean. “Your ancestor, Isaac Cotton, was about 15 years old when the Atlanteans firebombed the United States; he was 16 years old when he was crowned king of Columbiana.”

“Which means, your great-great-great-grandfather was the first king of Columbiana,” said Mobley.

“So, what does this all mean?” said Joshua.

“It means that you are now the king of Columbiana,” said Sean. “And that means something.”

“Indeed,” said Joshua as he was getting his head wrapped around the idea of being the king. That would mean he would no longer have to work at his job. His family could no longer live in their house. And what would being the king of Columbiana do to his family?

He then said, “Can anyone please explain to me what just happened?”

“We already did,” said Jacquelyn. “The America we came from doesn’t exist anymore here, not when the place is now called Columbiana. And this America hasn’t had a president since 1869, when President Abraham Lincoln’s second term ended.”

“I see,” said Joshua. “And how can your America possibly exist? When last I checked, there is no story where the Atlanteans didn’t firebomb America.”

“Exactly,” said Marika. “America wasn’t firebombed in that America we come from, probably because someone talked our great-grandfather Sir David Trichenberg out of blowing up the country, which he had wanted to do in a fit of rage when a white slaveowner had insulted him during his visit to Richmond, Virginia in 1857.”

“Well, this is all so strange,” said Joshua as he thought about what everything meant. How would his wife and children handle being royalty? What about his parents and siblings? And he wouldn’t dare mention his friends and coworkers, as they would be shocked to know that Joshua was now the king of Columbiana.

“While we’re all mulling that over, let’s see if we can clear up a few things,” said Mobley as Sean got up and paced the room. “We have no way to get back to our own time and place, as that time period was destroyed when that Albert Moore persuaded Sir David to go through with the firebombing attack.”

“Indeed,” said Sean. “But I don’t understand something. If there’s an alternate version of America, then there should be an alternative version of us. Or did we become our alternative versions?”

“We did,” said Jacquelyn. “You should know the rules of time travel; if you change just one thing, then the you who was living in the world before that change isn’t the same you who exists now.”

“And that’s what happened to us,” said Marika. “Before the time trip, I was trapped in the body of a 10-year-old girl; now I’ve got the body of a 20-year-old woman.”

“Yet you’re only 31 years old, which isn’t too bad considering your life circumstances,” said Mobley.

“OK, can we all quit talking about my age and get to the real issue here?” said Marika. “We’re currently dealing with a time period where America ceased to exist...”

“Because the Atlanteans showed up and attacked the United States in 1865,” Sean cut in.

“And there’s a man here who doesn’t know he’s the king of this country,” said Marika.

“So, what does this have to do with me?” said Joshua.

“Everything,” said Jacquelyn.

“Everything?” said Joshua. “What does THAT mean?”

“That means, your ancestor was the king of Columbiana, which makes you the king,” said Mobley.

“Unless your father is alive, of course,” said Sean.

Just then, Joshua’s wife Barbara came into the house, saying, “Are you all right, Josh? I heard that you fainted at work and someone brought you home.”

“I am now,” said Joshua as Barbara came into the room where Joshua was. “Why? What’s going on here?”

“Your mother called me early this afternoon,” said Barbara. “She told me to tell you about your father and older brother.”

“What about them?” said Joshua nervously. “What happened to them?”

“There’s been an accident at the train station today,” said Barbara as she stared at Joshua with tears in her eyes. “Both your father and brother are dead.”

At this, Sean loudly cleared his throat as he stared at Barbara. “Did I hear you right?” he asked. “You mean to say that Wyatt and Eugene Washington are dead?"

"They are," said Barbara. "Of course, Denise told me that because Wyatt was rumored to be king and Eugene was the oldest son before you and he didn't have any children, that makes you the king."

"Interesting," said Joshua as his mind was reeling over the deaths of his father and older brother. The day was turning outto be  interesting, albeit tragic. His father and brother were dead. He was now the king of a secret American empire. He met a group of cousins who came from an alternative world where a devastating attack occurred. Something strange was going on.

"You're going to have to tell your family to pack their things, as you'll be heading to Saint Louis in a few days," said Sean.

"You must be kidding!"