00043

Governor Bright and Security Leader Clyden waited for Osmo Martin and the Security Agent guards who had completed their time at the mines this duty cycle. The Governor and the Security Leader stood outside the mine mountain, by the bridge spanning the moat filled with the Eaters, who could be heard below snarling and growling and fighting amongst themselves.

Clyden told the Governor, "Finally- I am glad to get some private time again with you, Gov. Xavier. It seems lately it is difficult to see you without an audience about."

"Lately I've been very busy," answered Gov. Bright.

"Yes, of course, Governor. Question: Have you found me to be quite helpful to you over our years together, as your Security Leader? It cannot be denied, I am an invaluable asset, a proven ally in times of fortune and trouble.”

Gov. Bright nodded. "Yes, indeed, Sec. Ldr. Clyden. I have always appreciated your assistance. Without you, my job would be a lot more difficult. Why do you ask me? What is this all about?"

Sec. Ldr. Clyden explained, "I want to be your Lt. Governor, your second-in-command. I am in fact already your second-in-command, let's face it. But now I want to also be Lt. Governor in name. Frankly, I think I have earned that place."

Gov. Bright chose his words. "Oh? Well, you do help me very much, and I want you to know I am truly thankful for all you have done for the World of Hope."

Clyden glared at the Governor. "What? Am I some fool miner? I recognize that this sort of speech is how you string people along! Why put me off like this, Gov. Xavier? I help you whenever you need help! And you treat me like this!? It is insulting."

"I meant no disrespect, Security Leader Clyden. That I value you is apparent with the title you already have. But you know that whatever I do, I do it with a view of, how will it benefit our humble little world. That is always what motivates whatever I do.”

“Are you saying making me Lt. Governor would be bad for Hope?"

"No offense, Sec. Ldr. Clyden," said Gov. Bright. He glanced over his Security Leader's lax appearance. "You must forgive me, but I do what is in the best interests of the World of Hope."

Very annoyed, Clyden shook his head in disgust. "And how is it such a benefit for Hope and in its best interests when you come here to the mines to make sure life is made hard for No. 317, for George McCleer? Is that done for our world’s sake, or is it more personal? Because he got the better of you, back in college? No offense meant, of course."

"None taken," Gov. Bright replied. "But I think you misunderstand me, and after all this time we’ve worked together. Do you think I want to punish George because of Mrs. McCleer? Do you think I am such a small, petty man? You know very well he intended to send a bad report of me to Earth. You also know it is a certainty that he wanted to take over as Governor. And you also know now he wanted to see what we had in Research and Development. I declined, for matters of security, I said. You must realize he wanted to let Earth know what we had, and, should we decide to declare our independence from the motherworld, he wanted to report whether he though we were able to keep that independence."

"I do not contest those assumptions, Gov. Xavier," Sec. Ldr. Clyden said. "Whether true or not, it is of no concern. If you believe it, I believe it."

"Good, Sec. Ldr. Clyden. And you must be aware that Earth wants to cripple us, and make us always dependent upon them, so they can get what they need of the fuel ore from us on, their terms, with us under the proverbial thumb. They cannot afford losing us as a tributary. And they also want to see if we have a small, secret ore processor of our own, which we can use, should we declare our independence. Why do you think George came to audit our mine log books? If there is a discrepancy, the Leaders on Earth will suspect such a processor, understanding that if we can make our own fuel, we will be free of needing them. As it is, they only return a small pittance of processed fuel back to us, barely enough for our world to continue to function. To drive home the point to us, that we work for Earth, they even have the nerve to charge us an outrageous fee for the processed fuel they ship back to us- fuel that had been made from our own ore!" Fire in his eyes, he kicked a stone off the edge, into the trench. It bounced off something in the dark below, stirring into ferocity several starving Eaters.

Gov. Bright faced Sec. Ldr. Clyden. "I hope and expect that you, as the Security Leader, realize all this."

"I do. Of course.”

"So, if it seems spiteful to you, the way I want to see George McCleer suffer, then you also should know why I do. Anyone who wants to keep us dependent upon the Earth is an enemy, and I hate such a one. That is the reason I persecute him. Yes, I suppose it is personal. What if I do indulge myself against this man who is an enemy of our World of Hope? It is for Hope that I indulge myself. And McCleer deserves it. And just remember, I helped make Hope what it is. Yes, if it is personal, it is still for Hope, because, Sec. Ldr. Clyden, I am Hope, and Hope is Xavier Bright. Surely you, my Security Leader, know all this."

Before Clyden had time to answer any more, Gov. Bright continued, "I try to keep order for our citizens. But why, as my Security Leader, do you not do likewise?"

"I do! What do you mean by that?" demanded Clyden.

“I mean this- how can we have order if there still exists the house church, unapproved by me, defying my wishes and making me look bad in front of everyone, by their very existence, from the tourists to the citizens of Hope to the people of Earth? Is it any wonder Earth does not respect me, us?"

"Granted, they still meet secretly and illegally” Sec. Ldr. Clyden admitted, “but in the past we mostly just ignored them, since they really do no harm to us. And once in awhile we take one or two of them, just to show them who's boss, or when we need a few more miners to replace those we lost.”

“You think they do no harm, when they make my office look bad, impotent? Sec. Ldr. Clyden, you know better than that. See how the house church breeds people like Billy Boy and George- yes, I know, George never attended the house church. But people like that, whose minds cannot be completely controlled with the ID Wipe when we put them into our mines- dangerous people. And furthermore, this one they call Bro. Simon, do you know what he has done? He keeps trying to meet with me, to discuss what has become of that Billy Boy, and some of their other illegal church members, as well. But now he has the audacity to give me an ultimatum. He actually sent a message to me through the Board of Religion, that if I refuse to meet with him, then he will go to Earth and file a complaint against me. Can you imagine the rudeness of such a lowly peon?" Full of indignation, Xavier Bright at the moment looked more frightening than the Eaters below.

"I have the problem of Bro. Simon under control," Sec. Ldr. Clyden assured him.

"I hope so, I hope so. But what about the rest of the house church people? Tell me, when will you keep them in line, also? When you have them under control, then feel free to come back to me again, to discuss this job promotion."

Now Clyden fumed. In the past, he and Gov. Bright may have differed on things, but Clyden always yielded and did things the Governor's way. This humiliation was unwarrented.

The Security Agent guards, whose rotation was up, appeared at the mouth of the entrance cave with Osmo Martin in tow. The group began to file out. Gov. Bright smiled to them, his terrible face changed in a moment. "Ah, now we are ready to return to Sparkle City. I trust you found your time there instructive, Osmo?”

“Yes, Sir," Osmo replied.

"Then let us return to our city," the Governor announced. "Our work here is done."

When all the guards had piled into the landtransport, as well as Sec. Ldr. Clyden, Osmo Martin, and Gov. Bright, then Sec. Ldr. Clyden called for quiet as the vehicle pulled out. "Listen up, Security Agents. As you all know, the house church has long been a pest for our fair city, but lately it has also become a security threat. We can no longer look the other way, letting them continue to defy us. From now on, we must exert every effort in halting them. We must make them high priority on our list. We must make war upon the house church, and we must be relentless, until they are completely disbanded. We can stop at nothing less. Do I make myself clear, Security Agents?”

(c) drk 2012