The Girl With Green Scales: A Gen M Novel

Epilogue: The Execution

Pacifiers place us under house arrest. Groff's office is sealed as a crime scene, and his blubbering form is taken away. He wasn't kidding about the implant making the recipient docile.

Over the next week, Anton, Deirdre, Thelp, and I watch the truenews reports as the investigation into the First Minister unfolds. Anton and I sit on the couch. I brush his tail with Halmoni's brush. The silver dragon on the back glints in the light of the infocast. Anton buffs and manicures my claws. No need for nail polish when I can change the color myself at will.

Our spa-treatment exchange brings us a measure of calm as we face particular scrutiny. With every new report, our contributor rankings crash, skyrocket, then crash again. Thelp helps Demoiselle DuVent walk with an ornate cane she doesn't need—the healer did good work on her injured leg and ankle. The demoiselle grumbles that no one's sent flowers.

"Those socialite cowards are waiting to see which way the dust settles," she mutters, holding out her martini glass for Thelp to refill. There's no mention on the truenewscasts of Caitlin or the rebellion in the boroughs. I hope she's okay. I think of Etch. Did he make it to the other side of the river? Is he happy with his fellow dregs? Does he miss me?

Thelp wears a blank mask and doesn't say a word. "My head is pounding," the demoiselle explains, though no one asked. "I can't take any lip right now."

On the second day of house arrest, we sit in the gathering room and watch the truenews coverage of pacifiers raiding Groff's lab outside the Yellow Zone.

"Authenticators are confirming this was an unsanctioned gene-modification facility and that the real Doctor Dérangé was being kept here," Jeanine Buzzmill says. She waits a beat to let that sink in. "Authenticators do not yet know the identity of the person who was morphed into Doctor Dérangé's likeness and executed in his place. Identity misdirection, aiding and enslaving a techniac, and operation of a secret lair have been added to the growing list of charges against former Minister Fighterman. Doctor Dérangé has not been found in the compound and is classified as at large."

There's no mention of Papillon's sister or the others Groff held in his lair.

The images shift.

"As part of a coverup, the former First Minister is accused of having a number of people arrested. Among them was the Fourth Minister's newly adopted children, Ceph and Tourmaline. They have been liberated and authenticators confirm the teens are recovering from what they are describing as torture."

I watch Ceph and Tourmaline hugging their mothers; Tourmaline's shed her coal form and is back to her usual crystal perfection. Their contributor ratings are among the highest ever seen. If the Fourth Minister can maintain her rank it could sweep her back to the top of the political structure. I have to wonder how much she knew about the children who were being sent to die attacking the boroughs. I find it hard to believe she was in the dark.

Tourmaline quickly distracts Jeanine from asking any such questions. When asked for comment, she turns the subject to her dating life, declaring she will hold auditions for potential suitors and promises to broadcast the entire courting, or as she calls it, "elimination process," on her contributor account. Ceph denounces Groff's "dishonorable" and "illegal" actions, calling for Anton to be exonerated and recognized as a hero. As an afterthought, he adds, "Lilianne, too."

"Thanks, Ceph," I murmur.

Jeanine's antennae twitch. "Authenticators confirm Anton and Lilianne are expected to be cleared of wrongdoing as soon as today ..."

Anton and I look to each other excitedly. We hug. There's no spark, but there are comfort and warmth. Having a brother is not so bad.

"But that is not the case for techniac Mairī Lin Monroe," the informant says.