by GoozX
"All states, all powers, that have held and hold rule over men have been and are either republics or principalities."
-- Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince, Chapter I
Springfield, Illinois, January, 1996:
"In closing, this I ask of you, whether you are citizens of this great state, citizens of America, or citizens of the world, we must unite. For we all share a bloodline from the ends of time. When but one innocent soul is killed, a little bit of each of us dies with them. We all share the same high standards of strength and sacrifice. In the words of a once-great man and president, 'With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.'"
With these closing words, Governor Richard S. Turner stepped down from the platform of his inaugural address. At once, the crowd broke out in cheers. Red, white and blue. The state was united in celebration for an instant. A single sound of thunder ended that. A bullet ripped through the crowd, catching Governor Turner in the lower stomach, sending his body hard onto the ground. Havoc followed.
Red blood stained the flag that evening. At 1:30 a.m., the Illinois governor was announced dead to the world.
"Principalities are either hereditary, in which the family has been long established; or they are new."
A week's time passed. The governor's body was laid to rest in front of the world with a massive memorial service in downtown Chicago. His killer, Justin Paul Creed, was put to justice before the cops could even find him, or what was left of him. The news covered the second gubernatorial inaugural address in only a month's time, as Lieutenant Governor Robert Brown stepped into office. This date marked the first African-American governor of Illinois.
"The new are either entirely new, as was Milan to Francesco Sforza, or they are, as it were, members annexed to the hereditary state of the prince who has acquired them, as was the kingdom of Naples to that of the King of Spain.
Such dominions thus acquired are either accustomed to live under a prince, or to live in freedom; and are acquired either by the arms of the prince himself, or of others, or else by fortune or by ability."
In Nevada, a very hush-hush operation had just finished. Underground, a huge complex had been built, unknown to the public. Some could consider its size that of a small city.
In an office located completely in its center core, two figures watched as Robert Brown was sworn into office as governor of Illinois. One lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. The other man, dressed in military style, smiled.
"I hope I didn't kill you too harshly," he began, a sarcastic tone to his voice.
"No, General Creed," the man said before taking another breath from his cigarette. "My murder was executed just fine."
"Only the best for the Governor. Only the best."
"Thank you. It was much appreciated. Now to the matter at hand." The ex-Governor took out a file and threw it onto the desk separating the two men. Engraved on the file's top right-hand corner were the letters MCCA. "The metagene."