Chapter 3: Message

Luke and Henry exchanged a smile as they looked over their new suits, chuckling and exchanging jokes before they turned to watch their charge approach. Alfred shook his head, stopping in front of the two to give them each a new cell phone.

"You two will need these if you're going to actually get anything done. You'll be allowed to stay in the office with me during work, but the second I tell you to get out, you get out."

"Roger."

"Of course, sir." Henry chuckled, lifting his cane up. "Well, looks like I won't be needing this anymore."

"Huh? But Henry you can't-"

"I'm working for you again. There's no way I'm going to carry this around." the man shook his head. "Just in case someone were to see us with you."

Luke gave an understanding nod. "They might think you guard detail is weak, and try something."

"First of all, you two are not my guard detail." Alfred scowled. "You guys are just some concerned old friends I don't want blackmailing me into becoming a guard detail. Secondly, if anyone were to get past you two for any reason, it would probably end up with you two trying to save them."

The two old men exchanged glances as the president turned on his heel to exit the room. They followed closely, and were surprised as he was ushered to a limo by Margaret. She hurried the two 'guards' into it after him, then climbed in with them. As the vehicle took off, she handed Alfred what appeared to be a square piece of glass.

"The governors are already there waiting for you, all except Alaska whose plane was grounded in Colorado by a sudden snowstorm."

"She was unable to leave earlier?"

"Yes. Governor Johnson said she was unable to due to an accident a few days prior. Ahem, she slipped on ice and broke her right leg and arm."

"Oh my, gotta be careful on that northern ice. Hm, did Hawaii make it?"

"Yes sir, she arrived with California and Texas earlier this morning while you and Henry were away."

"Final question, have any of the governor's been made aware of the incident at the White House earlier?"

"No sir." Margaret dipped her head when the car stopped. "Did you get everything prepared?"

"Of course." the man tilted his head to tell his 'guards' to exit the car. Once they were out, he followed slowly, and watched the limo door close. As soon as it was driving off he turned to enter the 'congressional' building, and was pleased to see all the state representatives waiting in the main chamber as he made his way to the front. They all fell silent as he took his seat, but it was clear that some became concerned when the two old men took up spots on either side of him. Just as he was about to get started, Georgia's governor Kelly Mangham stood, her brown eyes flashing in the light almost as much as her solid white hair.

"Mr. President, is there a reason for you to suddenly have guards once again?"

"Governor Mangham, please sit down. I plan on addressing that issue first." he watched her sit, but you could see everyone else leaning forward to wait for him. "Everyone, earlier today there was a major fire in the White House kitchen. It has been labeled as an arsen."

"Arsen?!" Governor Raven Moore of Louisiana jumped up. "Why were we not informed of this sooner?"

"Calm down Moore," now Governor Celest Jones of Virginia stood. "He's the president, of course he couldn't tell us right away."

"Quite right," the man nodded, waiting for them to sit before continuing. "We are unable to tell who the culprit behind it was, but since the fire was not too serious, I am looking at it as a reaction to my message during the State of the Union yesterday."

Governor Rick James of Florida shifted in his seat, leaning forward to rest his cheek against his palm. "If that's so, then would it mean that there really are unhappy people here?"

"It's only natural." Colorado Governor Lyle Smith piped up. "If I was a betting man, and I'm not, I'd say it's probably older men and women who have convinced younger people that having an immortal for president isn't what the country needs. Despite all the freedoms and rights we now have guaranteed in the US, they probably feel like they've had the right to vote for their leader snatched away."

Kelly stood again. "But that's exactly why we're here! We were voted in to act as kind of mini-presidents to our people… Not so much governors as vice presidents, each state having it's own voted in every four years to enact the laws passed down by President America."

Alfred scoffed. "I can understand certain age groups reacting badly to my sudden position, but I don't think that's what the problem is here. Remember, I've passed a country wide vote to stay here as president twice since I came to sit in the White House. I have the same poll done every ten years, and I will continue to do that. So far, only three hundred people total out of every US citizen have written blatant negative remarks, which I have addressed. However, there is about twenty thousand, and maybe more now, that have kinda… been on the fence about my leadership. Those twenty plus are the ones I worry about."

Celest gave her president a confused look. "My state has shown no negative or impartial results."

"Most of the more Northern and West coast states have shown to be completely behind my leadership. However, states like Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia have been teetering back and forth on each side. The majority of these states' populations are backing me, but many are still undecided and maybe against it." Alfred stood. "Until I can figure out a way to make everyone happy without infringing upon anyone else, we can expect there to always be a group against having me in power. But, I have decided to do one more thing to help."

Now everyone looked curiously at their president, eagerly awaiting his next statement.

"I will allow there to be a human vice-president in the White House with me. Every four years, there can be a new one, or the old one can stay. I will allow it to be any human, so long as they are older than twenty-one and have at least a high school diploma. Any other restrictions can be added as we test this out over the next few years, but I've already instructed my secretary to have the ballot instructions sent to all of the states. Alaska has already started screening for applicants and anyone over sixteen may be allowed to vote."

"Is this really a good course of action President America?"

"I believe it is, but we will have to wait and see."