THE GOVERNOR

Hours later back in the city, inside a classy but modern conference room, a number of distinguished men were seated at a luxurious long glass table with matching chairs… 

"So, gentlemen, I am pleased to announce that I have found more samples taken from the site. However, our contact can no longer give us any additional ones in the future since there are no more." 

"Well, unfortunately, the ones that we received before are already quite tainted by the chemicals and heat of the explosions, Left Hand. It was quite impossible to be sure if the source of the samples is indeed Aaron Keiser."

"I don't think you understand what I'm trying to complete here, Doctor. It's very simple: I want absolute proof that the body - or body parts - of the burnt corpse found in the destroyed vehicle of Aaron Keiser is indeed him." 

"Don't you mean was, Governor?" 

"I don't like repeating myself, Doctor Hauptman, but I believe that Aaron Keiser IS still out there, alive and kicking. I also believe he set up this 'incident' so he could fake his own death and escape his responsibilities to me and my private army. That being said, I intend to find absolute and undeniable proof of his death first before I start referring to him in the past tense. He remains alive to me unless any of you can show me indisputable evidence that he is indeed dead." 

The silence that followed was quite thick in the air. No one seemed to want to break it due to some dangerous, unmentionable warning. 

But after a minute or so, someone dared to… 

"What I don't understand is why do you still need to find this guy IF he's really still alive. Why can't he just be replaced with someone better?" 

And the cold, heavy silence returned. This time, though, it was mixed with dread. 

The awkward moment was broken by a slim, pale senior with brown greying hair and thick-rimmed glasses. He was sitting at the head of the table, quite a contrast to all the broad-shouldered suited men, and the intelligent-looking lab-coated doctors that sat with him at the long conference table. 

However, everyone was paying close attention to him and his reactions, even with extreme apprehension… 

Even when he was slowly chuckling to himself, his mouth twisted into a sardonic smile, one couldn't help but feel their hairs stand up on end hearing him and seeing him do so. His bodyguards and private army members were probably the only ones who knew what was about to happen next. 

And they all knew better than to stop The Governor… 

This average-looking thin man of 5'10" stood up, and took out his Koth Combat revolver… 

Then shot the last speaker, Doctor Hauptman, in the face. 

Half the room erupted in yells of shock and even screams of terror. The other half were sighing with resignation, some of them smirking knowingly or even calmly wiping splattered blood from their clothes. 

"Calm down, gentlemen, please sit down and relax," stated The Governor, as if what he did was the most normal and logical thing in the world to do. "Realize that I had to shoot him because he wasn't using his brain. And that's not right for a doctor of his caliber. Definitely, not right…" 

He sat back down on his luxurious leather executive chair, leaned back a bit, and put up his feet on the glass table. He looked at some of his medical advisers, still pale and shaking as they took their seats, waiting until they had calmed down enough to give him their full attention. 

"The reason why he shouldn't have asked me why Aaron Keiser can't be replaced with someone better is quite simple." Governor Edward Kahlagu paused dramatically before continuing. "It's simply because there is NO ONE better than Aaron Keiser at what he does. All the more reason why I want him back with us if he is indeed alive." 

As the meeting - more like a monologue - continued, one of the men in the black suits was looking down in an effort to remove the disgust and disappointment that was starting to reflect on his face due to the newest cold-blooded murder the governor committed. He knew that, as usual, the crime would never be brought to the courts, no thanks to the governor's private militia army and his network of corrupt government, military, and judicial officials. 

And after these few years of watching this repeatedly happen, he was getting less and less assured that this was the right place for him. 

When he was younger, during his wild, do-or-die days, he definitely felt at home with the violence, bloodshed, criminality, and cruelty that the governor's personal death squad was well known for. But now, he knew he was getting too wise and mature for this kind of lifestyle and career. However, there was someone who was behind the changes in him. 

And he was starting to like the way she was affecting him, after years of him holding back and even resenting how she was making him more caring… compassionate… 

Soft… 

Something he never wanted to admit to himself before. Unfortunately, the more he spent time under the governor's service, the more aware he was of how wrong, how perverse, and how perverted his superior was. 

Ironically, she was also the most important reason why he did not dare to leave.

"And I know she will not leave me just to save herself. I'm definitely sure of that," he murmured to himself. 

On that cue, Governor Edward turned to his Left Hand. "So, Hero, are you absolutely sure that there can be no way to find more tissue and blood samples that can be used by our very willing and INTELLIGENT medical team?"

His boss' question cut through the Left Hand's mind. He immediately reeled in his deep thoughts to swiftly answer his superior's question.

"Our contact has assured me that those vials contain the last of whatever biological evidence they have of the car's driver." 

"That is unfortunate. This would probably mean more dead scientists in the next week or so, hahaha!" 

As the governor's sadistic laugh rang out, forcing the other people in the room to laugh along with him whether he was saying a joke or not, the Left Hand just smiled lamely. Underneath the table, both his hands were curled into tight fists, knowing that his boss was not joking. 

His thoughts: "I may have to rethink the plan I had before if I want to save these doctors from my crazed superior. But that can easily put me in the wringer, along with my friends… and her…"

"Oh, please, our dearest governor, don't be too concerned about our findings," one of the medical experts said in a groveling tone. "By the end of the week, we can definitely give you an answer. Hopefully, it will be the very thing you do want to hear."

"I would like to see that happen, Doctor Mariveles. Especially since you are the head of our medical department. I know you would not put any of your underlings in danger by not giving me what I want."

At this point, The Governor stood up and started to walk out the door. 

The Left Hand was quick to speak. "I'll be overseeing clean-up and debriefing, Sir. I'll just follow you back to the mansion after I'm done here." 

To his relief, the governor gave him an approving smirk and a nod. Hero then watched him walk out of the door with this set of bodyguards for the day. 

Hero's thoughts: "Now, to oversee everything… but first, I need to call him…"