Loading archive B-1994-3129D , Executive Committee Meeting

Reams of text and numbers scroll slowly down the screen mounted on the wall of the conference room. The Chairman bites his lip meditatively, taking in the reams of data being presented while the other committee members wait for his judgment in silence. The Chief Engineer plays with his ballpoint pen, nervously clicking away at it.

And finally the Chairman deigns to speak.

"Well done." he leans back in the plush leather chair, "Stability of utopia has improved immeasurably. And the cases of deviancy have seen a massive drop. The engineering department is to be commended."

"This is something to celebrate," the grandmotherly executive gives a pleased nod, "Now everyone is safe and sound. All's well and ends well."

"Until the next Purge Cycle that is." waspish woman sourly notes, "I've gone through the data as well. Deviancy has been reduced but it is still steadily building up."

"We aware of that." the chief engineer notes smugly, "That is the reason why engineering has performed a thorough overhaul of Utopia's system defenses."

With a quick tap on his tablet, the engineer dismisses the rolling data feed and calls up a colorful banner on the screen.

CCC

"I don't understand." waspish woman frowns, "Nice graphics on your presentation though."

"The Triple C project is good to go then?" the Chairman asks without preamble, not bothering with the looks of bafflement from his fellow executives.

"Triple C is already in action." the Engineer says proudly, "The reduction in deviancy is due to the first stage of the project, Compromise."

"Ah, right. That talk about formalizing "magic" in Utopia right?" Grandmother taps her chin.

"Our projected models of resident behavior have been proven correct." the Chairman elaborates, "By creating a syllabus on magic and openly teaching it within Utopia, the residents have grown inured to the sight of those particular system exploits and bugs manifesting around them."

"Wouldn't those exploits still erode Utopia's stability?" Waspish Woman points out.

"Less than you would think." the Engineer continues, "Now that the residents are no longer actively pushing back against those incongruities, the system doesn't need to keep suppressing those flaws."

"Lightening the burden on the system substantially." the Chairman concludes, "The first stage of the project has already substantially increased Utopia's lifespan."

"Deviancy still occurs though." Waspish Woman insists, "The numbers don't lie."

"Yes, and for that we have the second stage of the project." the Engineer notes, "Co-option."

"How is that possible?" Grandmother muses, "We cannot directly communicate with the residents or get them to stand down."

"The answer is obvious." the Engineer swaps to a new slide on the screen, "We take advantage of a deviant's imperfect knowledge."

"Explain." the Chairman orders.

"Deviants know there's something off about Utopia." the Engineer elaborates, "So we give them the means of using that knowledge for their own profit."

The screen then proceeds to stream a live feed of Utopia before highlighting a scanty number of individuals in blinking red color. Displayed beside each highlighted individual is a brief description.

"OP HERO GODSLAYER?" Grandmother squints as she reads one of the descriptors, "What does that mean?"

"I don't like the sound of HAREM KING MARK II either." Waspish Woman grimaces, "Wasn't the Harem King Crisis the start of this entire mess in the first place?"

"Hear me out." the Engineer presses on with his presentation, "After a particularly troublesome deviant comes to our attention, we provide them with privileged access to system functions and resources."

Stolen novel; please report.

"That's rewarding bad behavior." Grandmother objects strongly.

"Not in the least." the Engineer replies, "Such access is gated behind several requirements set by us. These requirements encourage the deviants to act in a desirable manner in return for whatever privileges that we provide."

"Meaning you put the deviants to work." the Chairman grunts from the head of the table.

"Precisely." the Engineer beams, "The deviants get their marching orders and fulfill them for the system rewards we dish out. And none of them can see the larger design they are part of."

"And how do you ensure the reliability of our new employees?" the Chairman asks.

"What the system gives it can also take away." the Engineer grins, "Mr OP Hero Godslayer might find himself flipping burgers tomorrow if he decides not to play ball."

"And letting deviants grow stronger isn't an issue?" Waspish Woman sounds unconvinced.

"Strength is relative." the Engineer switches to a graph on the screen, "As you can see, although a Co-opted Deviant's growth is explosive, it is still within tightly controlled boundaries."

"Well below what would be considered a threat to system integrity." Grandmother murmurs approvingly.

"A system where the residents watch and police each other." the Chairman says, "Very well done. Though there remains one more question that we have."

"What happens when a Deviant refuses to be Co-opted?" Grandmother smiles benignly.

"That's where the final stage of the project comes into play." the Engineer plays with his tablet again. And a single word erupts on the screen.

COERCION

---------

"Let me take your bag, Robert." Nevil bows to me and picks up the suitcase that had been loaded with my clothes.

I blink at the bright sun shining through the private ward window. Its been a few days already and its time to say goodbye to the hospital. I won't be missing it.

"Yvonne has settled all the discharge procedures." Nevil informs me as we begin walking side by side, "You're free to leave anytime."

"Yvonne, how is she?" I ask worriedly.

Ever since I was hospitalized from that fight in the industrial district, no one came to visit me. The nursing staff also refused to tell me anything. Someone was obviously paying my bills though. A private ward isn't cheap. And a supply of clothes had been made available for me as well. So I wasn't too worried. I had survived worse.

A day after the doctor said I had fully recovered, Nevil shows up to help pack all my clothes. He's been polite enough but I sense a certain disapproval radiating off him. Something might have happened with Paul while I was out of it.

"The majordomo is fine." Nevil responds, "She was also hospitalized here, actually. A shot of anti toxin and Miss Yvonne was good to go. Ya had it much worse. Yes ya did."

"You're doing it again, Nevil." I smile mildly.

"Doing what?" Nevil gives me a confused look.

"Putting on that strange accent." I wag my finger at him, "Your voice keeps falling in and out of it. Makes the accent sound fake."

"Doctor's right. You are feeling better." Nevil's face becomes an expressionless mask, "Healing quick must be one of your soul powers."

"Something like that." I don't elaborate any further, though Nevil's statement reminds me of an unwelcome guest I'm going to have to deal with later.

After everything that has happened, I'm really not looking forward to another confrontation with Maus. And the worst part is, I only survived thanks in part to her teachings. Maybe my luck's holding and Maus had moved on by now.

Nevil and I walk through a mechanical sliding door and enter the hospital's lobby. There's a sudden blur of movement and a pair of arms wrap tightly around me.

"Robert!" Yvonne cries out in relief.

"Whoa ..." I groan, thanks to my still sore body.

"I'm sorry!" Yvonne immediately pulls away as she scans me with worried eyes, "I didn't realize you were still hurt."

"Its fine. I was just taken by surprise." I say and smile reassuringly at her.

"Don't mind me." Nevil sighs, "Just standing here, staring into space."

"We better get going." Yvonne blushes and leads me out of the hospital by the hand, "The limo's parked nearby."

"Where's Paul?" I wonder out loud as we immediately catch sight of the limo parked by the side of the road.

"Out shopping with Sara." Yvonne explains, "They decided to hold a feast for you tonight. The return of the loyal knight!"

"But shouldn't you be in charge of the shopping?" I ask Yvonne as Nevil opens the limo's boot and loads my luggage. She's the majordomo of the household after all.

"I'm strong at cleaning the house." Yvonne pouts, "My weakness is cooking though. I hope you don't mind."

"Uh, what does cleaning and cooking have to do with anything?" I scratch my head in bewilderment.

"Oh, you don't know this yet." Yvonne sighs in frustration, "There's some kind of animal that moved into the penthouse. It keeps digging through the trash and making a mess. We might have a rodent problem."

Damnit. Maus was still living with us then.

"I've tried to trap it," Yvonne continues with her story, "but its just too crafty! I haven't even managed to catch sight of our squatter so far!"

"No, what I mean is that shouldn't you be assigning the maids to do stuff like pest control or shopping?" I decide to ignore the bit about Maus and get back on topic.

"All the servants are being rotated out." Nevil cuts in as we board the limo, "Miss Yvonne and Miss Sara have become the maids of the residence for the time being."

So, something had happened while I was away. And it certainly sounds serious.

"Don't talk about that." Yvonne purses her lips at Nevil, "Let Robert enjoy his day."

"Yes Ma'am." Nevil drones and fires up the limo's engine. Yvonne presses a button by the armrest and the privacy screen cuts us off from the driver's compartment.

"This is nice, isn't it?" Yvonne sighs as she leans on my shoulder. As the city whizzes past us, I have to agree. This is nice. And the world seems so much more beautiful than before. Maus might disagree with my choice to accept the legacy but it was the right one to make.

It has to be.