Chairman (Psi Factor)

The Chairman
Biographical Information
Real Name	Unknown
Aliases	Man in the Iron Mask Francis Xavier Byrne The Chairman
Homeworld	Earth
Death	1999
Physical Information
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Chronological / Political Information
Affiliation(s)	Office of Scientific Investigation and Research Frank Elsinger Peter Axon Tessler Industries Grant Tessler Veritec Industries Kristine Ambrose
Citizenship	French Canadian
Base of Operations	Ste Beatrice Hospital, Montreal, Quebec
Fictional Information
Portrayed by	Wayne Best
First Appearance	Forever and a Day, Part 2
Final Appearance	Forever and a Day, Part 2

“	Investigating Cambodia. The Killing Fields. He was a friend - and an advisor - to Pol Pot! They were a couple of death junkies, feeding each other's habit.	”
–Michael Kelly, explaining to Matt Praeger how he knew Byrne

The Chairman was an unidentified immortal human that lived for centuries, becoming known as the Man in the Iron Mask, and in the late 20th century having assumed the alias of Francis Xavier Byrne.

Biography

18th century

In the year 1703, on the Isles of Sainte-Marguerite, the Man in the Iron Mask was visited by a guard and a barber with the intention of shaving the massive beard that had grown under the helm. The prisoner questioned the barber whether he believed in God or the Devil. After the guard stated he believed in God, the prisoner stole the barber's razor and slashed the man's throat, before killing the other men in the room. Shortly after, he drank their blood from a chalice. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)

19th century

1880s

The Chairman was photographed in Dublin in 1885. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)

20th century

Michael Kelly's investigations of the Chairman would uncover that the immortal had amassed a great deal of power and wealth over the years, as well as various companies that had fallen under his sway. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)

1930s

The Chairman was photographed in Oslo in 1938. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)

1970s

The Chairman was photographed in Kampuchea in 1976. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)

1980s

Byrne attended his last Veritec Industries board meeting in 1989. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)

Death

“	So this is what it's like.	”
–The Chairman

The Chairman realises he is about to die.

After torturing Praeger, Elsinger arrived with the cure. Byrne immediately injected the fluid from the vial into himself, and the physical reaction was swift. Byrne's body aged within seconds, and he had only time to reflect that he now knew how death felt before dying after centuries of life. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)

Legacy

Byrne's cadaver was rendered skeletal within moments, as Praeger was removed from the empty hospital by paramedics. Some time later, Elsinger and Case Manager Jane Halliwell were searching Byrne's room at the hospital. Halliwell inquired what she was meant to do with Byrne's centuries old possessions, and Elsinger stated that he had already taken what he had wanted, ordering Halliwell and her team to burn what was left, including the remains of Michael Byrne. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)

Several months later, Anton Hendricks became the OSIR's new Director of Operations, taking over for Elsinger, and becoming the new highest power in the organisation, and introducing new changes to the hierarchy. (TV: Shocking)

Weapons and Abilities

Inherent Abilities

• Agility: The Chairman was able to swiftly dispatch and kill two men with a razor after having been shackled for a long period of time. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)
• Hypnosis: The Chairman was able to force others to comply with his will by looking into their eyes, forcing them to carry out tasks, tell the truth, or implant suggestions. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)
• Immortality: After reaching maturity, the Chairman's aging slowed, allowing him to live for over two centuries. This was caused by his unique genetics, including the Progeria gene, which was functioning in the opposite manor in which it usually did. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)
• Pain Inducement: The Chairman was able to cause intense physical pain in those who looked into his eyes. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)

Armaments

• Razor: The Chairman held on to the razor with which he had freed himself from the time of his escape in 1703 until his death in 1999, and used it to torture Matt Praeger. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)

Qualities

• Ruthlessness: The Chairman did not hesitate to murder those in his way, and took pleasure in killing. (TV: Forever and a Day, Part 2)

Personality

The Chairman was a violent, unstable individual who reacted with rage whenever things did not go his way. He took pleasure in murder and torture, and happily used a razor to slice strategic wounds in Matt Praeger's body, with the intention of allowing him to bleed out.

While following the death of his son the Chairman expressed what was considered by others to be sorrow at the loss of his child, he confirmed to Praeger that he had only cared for the child's ability to be used for transplants to extend his own life cycle.

Notes

• The Chairman was portrayed by Canadian actor Wayne Best.
• The Chairman's exact age and place of birth are never stated nor even implied. One could presume that he was a French citizen based on his background as the Man in the Iron Mask.
• The reason for his imprisonment is never stated, but it is conceivable that he was confined because of his immortality.

Appearances

• Psi Factor
  • Forever and a Day, Part 2 (first and final appearance)