"For someone whose world government once spanned multiple systems, I am a bit suspicious of galactic authorities," he says with a little grimace. "There is bound to be interplanetary conflict sooner or later, it seems."

"If it had been up to me, I would have relinquished my father's empire slowly, planet by planet--but admittedly, I would have done it in large part just to spite him, so I'm not objective about it, either."

Sigh. "Anarchy is even more tempting an idea at this point in my life. I wanted authority once. Now I want to mind my own business, primarily."