Succession (39 page)

I’m not sure whether to feel pleased or just confused. I look to my lawyer for guidance, but she just sits there, calm and content, like she’s not surprised by any of this. I wait as the state attorney addresses my mother once more.

“Ms. Miller, you are simply too big to fail. As much as my department would love to shove you out of the way, you are the face of the Miller System. Due to the close partnership of your system and many of our regulatory agencies and international development teams, we can’t just dispose of you properly. And your ability to pull strings, even when clearly under surveillance and a stop order, remains impressive.”

Kristine gives the state attorney a smile. “Whatever do you mean?” she asks, feigning innocence. “I just passed along some information about Oliver Torenze. It was your department that chose to act on it.”

“It seems they had some motivation,” the state attorney says, casting a suspicious look at Edson.

“The security of our state takes the commitment of every citizen,” Edson comments. “That seems like adequate motivation to me.”

The state attorney shakes her head. “I wouldn’t be surprised if one of you planted the evidence in his home to frame him for this, but I don’t care, either. We need a villain. Oliver Torenze fits that profile perfectly. He’s wealthy, powerful, but doesn’t pose a risk to the state if he falls. He’s close enough to you and to Mr. Michaud to be a logical choice, and even his legitimate business is vile. Nobody wants to support a man whose major investments are in medical research on human beings.”

Kristine smiles again. “That’s why the Miller System specifically doesn’t mention where our unplaceable slaves end up.”

The state attorney nods. “Oliver Torenze will be charged with a number of crimes associated with inappropriate handling and releasing of data, dating all the way back to when he was a part of the Miller System. Our media team will confirm that it was him who arranged the raid on your home, Mr. Michaud, and that he was the one who released incriminating evidence about the Miller System. We’ve already contacted a number of the reporters he’s spoken to recently and they’ve been very agreeable.”

I sit there, shocked, but I nod. My mother looks pleased, and just as nervous as I feel.

“The world will welcome a new business partnership,” the state attorney explains. “The Miller System has outstayed its welcome, but there is no denying that it will always be an important part of our history. We need to maintain that part, and to do that, we need you, Ms. Miller. You will join Mr. Michaud as a senior advisor. Mr. Michaud, you will bring your innovative research and pretty slave. You will be the head of the new company. The two of you will bridge the old and the new; you will welcome the next generation of Demoted research and re-education training with open arms.”

I am both pleased and horrified. This is going well for me, except the part where I am saddled with my mother for the rest of the conceivable future. I try to think my way out of it, and I come up with nothing.

“I guess that would work,” I say slowly.

The state attorney gives me a hard glare. “Mr. Michaud… we didn’t offer you an option.”

I shut my mouth, nodding. She doesn’t even have to make a threat; I know all the things she could do. Being put in prison would be the least of my concerns. Edson gives me a warning look. I’m certain she played a role in arranging this deal; it would be in my interest not to destroy it.

My mother isn’t taking the news very well, either. “You’re expecting me to just hand my business over? I’ve put my whole life into making the Miller System the best it could be. How am I supposed to sit back and watch it be destroyed?”

“Ms. Miller, this was never your business in the first place. You, the Miller System, you were nothing more than a tool, employed in the interest of the state. You will step down, and you will do it with the Miller System smile that the nation has grown to know and love. You’ll stay on, mostly for our public relations concerns, and you will provide everything that Mr. Michaud needs to be your successor. In return, you’ll continue to enjoy the comfortable life you’ve worked so hard for.”

My mother looks devastated, but she’s not so stupid as to challenge the offer. She nods, quietly.

“Mr. Michaud, welcome to the business of Demoted resource management,” the state attorney says. “You’ll have much to learn, and hopefully Ms. Miller can be an asset to you. You came highly recommended by many of the right people.”

The state attorney hands us both paperwork to sign, indicating our agreement, our cooperation, and our pardons from the variety of legal charges we’ve accumulated. My mother signs hers quickly, but I pause, considering Sascha.

“Can I ask for a favor?” I try. I’m not going to back out either way; as I’ve been told, it’s not an option. “My slave… he’s told Torenze something personal, something about his family—”

The state attorney waves a hand, cutting me off. “The Assessment story?” she clarifies. “Believe me, Mr. Michaud, he’s already tried it. The state has had enough riots this year. If anyone could even get that story out of Mr. Torenze, they wouldn’t live to see it published. As far as this office is concerned, it’s desperate lie from a desperate man. Our Assessment never fails, and it can’t be outsmarted. We need this to be true just as much as you do.”

“I’ll have it put on record,” Edson adds, looking pleased. “Documentation that it was a lie, perhaps another attempt to commit fraud on Mr. Torenze’s part. If anyone tries to bring it up again, they can be subjected to the same charges. It should offer you some peace of mind.”

I nod, slowly realizing how much sense it makes. Sascha is safe, and so am I, because they need us for now. We just have to make sure they keep needing us. I sign the agreement quickly.

“The press release will take place tomorrow afternoon,” the state attorney advises us. “I’d suggest you both come prepared.”

Without another word, we are escorted out of the office. While we wait for officers to escort us home, I look at my mother. She has a strange smile on her face, a little tear in her eye. If it was anyone else, I’d say she looked proud.

“I always hoped you’d succeed me in the family business one day, Cashi.”

The press release is planned with cutting precision. Every member of the state’s public relations team and the Miller System’s public relations team have coordinated to make this event as spectacular and as controlled as possible. There are as many protesting audience members as there are excited supporters. Slavery has always been an emotionally charged topic.

I am next to Cash for all of it, because I am his loyal slave. Whether the audience views this as a positive endorsement of slavery or a sickening demonstration of the devaluation of human life, it doesn’t matter. I am here, next to Cash, where I belong.

Sy is standing off to the side, looking professional. It’s hard to tell him apart from the paid security team; they wear the same style clothes, stand in the same ready position, and have the same impassive expression on their faces. The only difference is, Sy’s not carrying a gun.

Kristine Miller is to the other side of Cash; I’m glad to be a few feet away from her, but the fact that we’re being forced to partner with her is troubling. I would like few things more than to be far, far away from her, not just physically, but professionally. She helped us with Torenze because it helped herself, but as Cash explained it, they were forced to partner. The state needed a replacement for a broken system, and our Argova associates needed an amenable source for future business. It’s the best choice, but it doesn’t mean I hate it any less.

The announcer finishes introducing everyone and thanking the sponsors, and Kristine Miller takes the microphone first.

“Hello everyone,” she begins, the smile on her face reminding me eerily of the way the training materials at the re-education centers looked. “I’d like to start by saying that it has been a wonderful run for myself, and for the Miller System. For over thirty years, my company has led not only our great nation, but many others in the best training and preparation of the Demoted population.”

She pauses, appropriately, as half the crowd cheers and other screams insults. Kristine smiles throughout it all. My master watches, his face masked as carefully as Sy’s is. For all anyone watching knows, he and Kristine are nothing more than business associates.

“But the best and brightest cannot remain stagnant,” Kristine continues. “Just like the criteria for passing the Assessment change every year to accommodate our ever-brighter youth, the way our re-education centers are run must also change with the times. And I believe that no one is more capable of making these changes than Cashiel Michaud.”

She shoves the microphone into Cash’s hand without another word. The state’s public relations team looks annoyed, but Cash continues on as though nothing is wrong. Kristine was supposed to continue extolling the virtues of Michaud System for a few more minutes, but she’s already receding to the back of the stage. For once, she looks defeated.

“Ms. Miller has been an inspiration to everyone in the Demoted industry,” Cash acknowledges. “And she will continue to be. While she is stepping down from her position, she will be the head of the advisory board of the Michaud System. Many of you are familiar with me from the public engagements I’ve had over the past few weeks, and I hope you don’t think that’s all I can do. With the Miller System team backing the new system, we will bring the best of both worlds to the re-education center empire. I never intended to make this big of a change, but when I was offered the position, I was pleased to take it. Researching the re-education centers has been a passion of mine for many years, because I know we can make better use of this underutilized resource. My predecessor paved the way, and I can’t imagine a re-education center without her influence. Personally and professionally, I commit to this nation. I commit to a stronger Demoted system.”

The crowd goes wild; regardless of which side they are on, this is good news. I see my master’s mother sneaking glances at him here and there, a pleased look on her face. A part of me wonders if this is really what she wanted all along.

The speech continues, and carefully selected reporters are invited to ask questions—pre-approved questions, of course, but they don’t give that impression. Cash and Kristine take turns answering issues of what happened with Torenze, what fueled the animosity between them, and how they plan to move forward together. From an outsider’s perspective, they make the perfect business partnership. From an insider’s perspective, they are puppets, played by the state agencies. But there are worse things to be than a puppet.

One of the reporters asks “What inspired you to research the Demoted?”

It’s a pre-approved question, but the smile on Cash’s face says he’s up to something. “A simple desire to see this resource be used to capacity.”

From the script I saw earlier, he’s supposed to move onto the next question, but he doesn’t.

“Actually, that reminds me of something,” Cash says. “A while ago, there were rumors that my slave, this one, right next to me, had been the one to prepare much of the data for the original release. Some even said that he was the one who released it!”

The crowd splits again, half cheering, half booing and cursing. I can hear the event staff making angry statements behind us.

“You could all have that level of skill and loyalty at your fingertips,” Cash suggests. He places a hand on my shoulder. “Sascha has been instrumental in my work. He is a Demoted slave, but he is so much more valuable than most of you would believe. What’s more—he’s mine. All of his actions reflect on me, good and bad, and his accomplishments boost my own. This does not weaken the Demoted system. It strengthens it, and it strengthens the nation.”

A quiet mood takes over the audience. To condemn the statement would be to speak poorly about the state, to agree with it would mean acknowledging that what Cash said about the Demoted is true. I feel my heart race in fear and excitement.

“This is what the new Demoted system can accomplish,” Cash continues, as if nothing is wrong. “We will get the most out of our Demoted population, and everyone will reap the benefits.”

The press release concludes quickly after this. The audience is stunned, and the event organizers seem worried that Cash will say something else inappropriate.

Edson greets us after the event, giving Cash a dirty look. “That was not an approved response.”

“I didn’t think the state could really afford to retire two systems on the same day,” Cash replies, flippant. “And I don’t want any more secrets held over my head. It’s all out there, now. Let the public do what they want with it. It seems Sascha’s taught me a few things about transparency.”

I smile, trying not to be too obvious, and Sy comes to join us. Edson just sighs and walks off; we have trouble with any of the officials, so it seems that the information will be ignored. Over time, I even wonder if the idea of the Demoted being useful will come to be accepted.

We are escorted home by a team of state security agents. They have become a familiar figure in our lives, and I expect they will continue to be so, just as Kristine Miller is. Cash explained that we don’t really have a choice. In this world, nobody does. You fail the Assessment, you get Demoted, your master rules the rest of your life. You pass it, the state rules you, but at least you have the illusion that you’re free.