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You stand up and begin pacing the room. It's times like this that you're reminded of your father, the father you never knew, not more than a winsome smile in a faded photograph and your grandfather's frequent assurances of a likeness. When you grandfather died, the overseer (though at that time he wasn't yet the overseer), took it upon himself to look after you. Little things. Making sure you were getting enough to eat and keeping up in your studies and weren't getting into (too much) trouble. Sometimes encouraging your curiosity by pulling strings with the computer archivists. Other times bailing you out when the trouble got too big. Celebrating your birthdays at his house, with his family. With Theresa. Maybe he knows how you're crazy about her, a friendship and love forged so long ago. Maybe he regrets bringing you into his fold. Theresa is his flesh and blood after all, whereas you're only a stray. He wants to protect her--from the world out there--but also from people like you. You can respect that. That's his right as a father, his duty. But Theresa will not abide being sequestered away like some precious jewel. You know just what'd she'd say to her father if she were now: diamonds are made under pressure.
"When we return, Theresa will be hailed as a hero," you say.
"IF you return."
"When we return, Theresa will have a good chance of getting the popular vote."
The overseer looks up, intrigued. "What are you saying? I thought you were going to--"
"I can serve in her cabinet. I probably wasn't going to get council approval anyway. But the daughter of the present overseer is a different story." That's not entirely true, you'd probably be able to sweet talk (or in some cases wear down) the councilors eventually, but it would've been an uphill battle, with the overseer entrenched at the summit. "It's what you've always wanted, right? To see her succeed you."
"It's what you've always wanted, too."
You've already gotten what you've always wanted. The overseer position was only a means to that end. Besides, as a cabinet member, you'd get most of the perks without all the annoying responsibilities. A win-win.
"I'll live," you say.
"You'll bring her back in one piece?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die." Seeing that he's less than amused, you add, "I won't let anything happen to her. I, also, that is, I--
He holds up his hand. "I know," he says. So he did know.
"I'll keep her safe. You have my word."
