Line #6 YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness/Literature


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6	'''Warning: Often serves as a {{Death Trope\|s}}, and frequently involves spoilers.'''
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8	Times where villains aim to [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness eliminate some no-longer necessary minions or other loose ends]] in {{Literature}}.
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11	* In ''Literature/AllTheWrongQuestions'', Hangfire attempts to drown Dame Sally Murphy once he doesn't need her anymore.
12	* In ''Literature/AnimalFarm'', Old Major names this trope as one of the chief evils committed by man against animals, citing that "the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty." When Napoleon takes over the farm, he has [[spoiler:the big draft horse Boxer sold to the knacker's to have his throat cut and his remains boiled down for the foxhounds the very day his great muscles lose their power, and the dogs drowned in a pond when they become old and toothless.]] Unsurprisingly, he is shown to be [[FullCircleRevolution at least as bad as Farmer Jones]], whom the animals overthrew near the start.
13	* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'':
14	** Visser One is downright pathological about this, as revealed in ''[[VillainEpisode VISSER]]''. Over the course of the narrative, she goes through seven hosts, killing them one by one once she's got someone better and they're no longer of any use.
15	** Visser Three too, though he's much less pragmatic and much more AxCrazy about it, killing his subordinates on a whim. You don't even ''need'' to fail him to earn a messy death, though it certainly helps.
16	* ''Literature/TheBelgariad'':
17	** Zandramas, the BigBad of ''The Malloreon'', does this approximately fifty times in five books. Had to catch a ship? Sink it as soon as you're off. Don't need an escort any more? Break their legs and leave them for the lions. While Zandramas had a lot of bad habits, this was the one she indulged in most often.
18	** Interestingly, protagonist Garion points out the pragmatic downsides to this when he tries to dissuade his new friend Zakath from relying on executions as a punishment -- just because someone isn't useful anymore ''right now'' doesn't mean they won't be at some possible time later, and you can't exactly dig up people and un-execute them.
19	* Similar to the ''Animal Farm'' example, horses in ''Literature/BlackBeauty'' are only valuable as long as they can work. When Beauty sees his old friend Ginger, she is in the hands of a cruel owner who is using her up; she flat-out tells him she wants to die, since as long as she's living she'll be forced to work, and when her body finally gives out she'll be sent to the slaughterhouse.
20	* In ''Blonde Genius'' by Creator/JTEdson, cat burglar Gus Saunders is ejected from a plane without a parachute when after he has served TheSyndicate's purpose by robbing Bekinsop's Academy.
21	* In ''Literature/TheBoleynInheritance'' the Duke of Norfolk leaves Jane Boleyn to be accused of treason and executed after his plans, in which she assisted him all along, start to go wrong.
22	* In ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'', the main villain does this to some lower-class criminals that were used for the dirty work. Unsurprisingly, as they [[HeKnowsTooMuch knew too much]].
23	* In ''Literature/CatChaser'', as soon as Rafi outlives his usefulness to their plan, Jiggs and Nolen sell him out to Andres and let him murder Rafi.
24	* In the ''Literature/ChristCloneTrilogy'', the CloneJesus and eventually TheAntichrist Christopher Goodman saw no problems with killing his mentor Decker Hawthorne in the third story of the series when Christopher was now in control of the entire world with Decker's help, even regarding what became the MarkOfTheBeast, and that Decker was no longer needed for anything.
25	* ''Literature/CodexAlera'':
26	** Lady Invidia Aquitainus is a skilled political mover with few lines she won't cross. Her spy in the First Aleran knows this. So, when she orders him to kill [[spoiler:the winner of a duel to the death, whether it is either Tavi or her own corrupt senator]], and assures him she will get them both out safely, the spy has a pretty good guess as to what will really happen. [[spoiler:So, after Tavi defeats the senator's champion, the spy tries to kill her instead. While the crossbow-like bolt attack does kill the senator, it only seriously wounds Invidia and she escapes the infirmary]].
27	** The Vord Queen [[spoiler:averts this with Invidia, when she has captured the latter and only partially healed her wounds. Once her conquest is complete, she plans for Invidia to rule over the humans who have surrendered to her in exchange for leniency and help]].
28	** Kitai argues the inversion of this concept to Tavi in order to spare the life of [[spoiler:Fidelias, one of the greatest traitors to the Realm (and the aforementioned spy in the First Aleran)]] -- not out of mercy, but because they could still be of help in the war against the Vord.
29	* In a particularly cruel example, Raistlin Majere does this to [[spoiler:Crysania]] near the end of ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}} Legends'', telling [[spoiler:her]], "Farewell, [[spoiler:Revered Daughter]]. I need you no longer."
30	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
31	** In ''Literature/{{Hogfather}}'', the [[PsychoForHire psycho killer]] assassin [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Teatime Mr. Teatime]] ''always'' does this, even to hostage and bribees, creeping out other guys who only "won't hesitate to kill anybody between them and some gold." He's described as being one of the rare ''literal'' examples of "someone who will kill you as soon as look at you". He takes it to StupidEvil levels by killing his own allies the ''instant'' they've fulfilled their purpose, with no consideration for if they might be useful again later (or for what it does to the morale of his remaining crew). [[spoiler:Had he survived it's likely the Thieves and Assassins Guilds would've had him killed anyway just for the number of valuable experts he wasted.]]
32	** In ''Literature/TheTruth'', a pair of villains plan to kill their Lord Vetinari look-alike once "his face no longer fits". Luckily, he is rescued in time.
33	** The villain in ''Literature/MakingMoney'' also does this, thereby enabling Vetinari to [[RevealingCoverup deduce his plan]] from the string of bodies left behind.
34	** In ''Literature/InterestingTimes'' Lord Hong has Two Fire Herb killed after he's done with the Resistance. However, because Two Fire Herb had enough foresight to ask for a promise that Hong would neither write or say an order for his execution, Lord Hong makes an origami man. Without a head.
35	** In ''Literature/{{Mort}}'', the [[TheEvilPrince Duke]] (a dab hand with poisons) catches the antidote-dosed King Olerve off-guard by simply hiring an assassin with a crossbow and a fast horse. Death assures the King's ghost that the assassin's horse isn't fast enough: He allowed the Duke to provide him with a packed lunch.
36	* ''Literature/{{Dune}}'':
37	** Baron Vladimir Harkonnen [[IHaveYourWife has Yueh's wife kidnapped]] to coerce him into betraying the house of Atreides, then [[ReleasedToElsewhere "frees" his wife]] and [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves "reunites" him with her]], because "he [[IGaveMyWord always keeps his promises]]". (However, Yueh had [[GambitPileup already guessed the Baron's intentions and planned a posthumous revenge]].)
38	** In a variation, Baron Harkonnen -- after surviving an assassination attempt by his nephew and baronial heir Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen -- reaches an agreement in which he will forgive this attempt on his life if his nephew agrees to wait until the Baron feels that his heir is properly prepared to take the throne, at which time he will step aside willingly (a sort of "''I'' Have Outlived ''My'' Usefulness").
39	** At several points Baron Harkonnnen muses on the eventual need to this to his Mentat, Piter de Vries. [[SubvertedTrope Then Piter is killed in an assassination attempt on the Baron while the Baron still finds him useful]].
40	* ''Literature/TheElderEmpire'': Maxwell, the rouge Gardener who trained a group of children to be assassins, killed one of his less-competent students when it was time to escape, saying he had no more use for her, and then ordered Shera to come with him. Shera calmly killed him for the exact same reason. Shera has used this event for years as proof that she's TheSociopath, only for Meia to smack her upside the head with the truth when she tries to pull a HeroicSacrifice.
41	-->'''Meia:''' Why did you kill Maxwell?\
42	'''Shera:''' I had no more use for him.\
43	'''Meia:''' No, you killed him because he ''murdered your best friend'', you ''idiot''.
44	* In ''Literature/TheEmperorsSoul'', Shai is smart enough to know this is going to happen to her after she completes her task to Forge a new soul for the Emperor, despite promises to the contrary, and therefore plans from the start how to avoid it.
45	* ''Literature/EmpireFromTheAshes'': The BigBad of ''Heirs of Empire'' does this ''so much'' it's almost like a RunningGag by the end. Sometimes, the "usefulness" was simply setting this situation up for ''other'' minions! [[spoiler:This comes back to bite him in the ass ''big time'', though it takes longer than one might expect.]]
46	* Referenced in Creator/JulesVerne's ''Facing the Flag'': main character Simon Hart, who has been the only man to speak with MadScientist Thomas Roch for years, knows that the moment Roch reveals the secret to his superweapon, both of them will be killed by BigBad Ker Karraje. Much to their luck, Roch is paranoid enough that he keeps the secret to himself - and Karraje believes Hart knows more than he lets on.
47	* In the ''Literature/FirebirdTrilogy'', wastelings are the third- and fourth-born children of Netaian royals and nobles, conceived and raised only to make sure their family's line doesn't die out; once the line of succession is secured (their eldest sibling has two children), they are legally required to commit suicide. Refusal to commit suicide means that they are publicly executed instead.
48	* ''Literature/ForestKingdom'': In book 1 (''Blue Moon Rising''), when the Demon Prince is done with [[spoiler: the Astrologer]], he [[ForcedTransformation turns him into a low-grade demon]].
49	* ''Literature/GoodOmens'': After the satanic nuns 'successfully' place the baby Antichrist into a mortal family, the demon Hastur burns down their Convent, partially as a coverup and partially because he's a sadistic demon. Nobody actually gets killed or even seriously hurt, but it puts an end to their order and ensures it will be nearly impossible for anyone snooping to find out what happened that night. Of course, Crowley and Aziraphale ends up needing to do just that years later.
50	* Averted in the ''Literature/HammersSlammers'' series by way of the Bonding Authority. This not only prevents employers from double crossing the mercs they hire, but conversely, it also prevents the mercs from "writing their own name on the line of victor".
51	* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
52	** In ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire The Goblet of Fire]]'', Voldemort kills Bertha Jorkins because she is of no use to him anymore.
53	** The Grimmauld Place is decorated with the heads of the House of Black's former house-elves. According to Sirius, his family had a tradition of chopping off the heads of their house-elves once they became too weak to carry a tray.
54	** In ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows The Deathly Hollows]]'', Voldemort kills [[spoiler:Snape ]] because he believed that [[spoiler:Snape needed to die at his hand in order to gain control of the Elder Wand]]. Ironically, Voldemort failed to notice the slightly greater crime of [[spoiler:continually betraying him for the last eighteen years]].
55	** Honestly, this trope serves as [[EvilCounterpart Voldemort's biggest contrast with Harry]]; [[MagneticHero Harry inspires loyalty]] [[PowerOfFriendship from his friends]] while Voldemort uses fear tactics. [[spoiler:His insistence on using this trope is what ultimately leads to his undoing. Not only does Narcissa Malfoy betray him at a critical moment, but his Death Eaters start to abandon him during the final fight.]]
56	* ''Literature/HaveSpaceSuitWillTravel'': Two of the Wormfaces' human minions receive this treatment. When the Wormfaces have no more use for them, they kill the minions and turn them into soup [[ImAHumanitarian so the Wormfaces' can eat them]].
57	* In ''Literature/TheHourOfTheDragon'', Valerius knows Amalric will kill him as soon as the trope came into play, and so works hard on TakingYouWithMe.
58	* ''Literature/InDeath'': When there's a partnership of two bad guys, you can be reasonably sure one of them will kill the other and state this trope.
59	* Discussed and averted in ''Literature/{{Insomnia}}''. When Charlie Pickering is arrested for trying to kill Ralph, Ralph's cop friend tells him that Ed Deepneau will let Pickering rot in jail and find himself a new [[TheDragon dragon]]. They're both surprised when Deepneau pays Pickering's considerable bail.
60	* The Big Bad in ''Literature/InvasionOfKzarch'' does this to [[spoiler:the [[RebelLeader rebel general]], who had betrayed his own forces]]. In a rather more impressive way than usual too: Instead of simply shooting him, he has him tossed out a gunboats window, and shot with it's [[EnergyWeapon beam cannons]].
61	* ''Literature/JackRyan'':
62	** Played straight in ''Dead or Alive'' by the terrorist group, who kills all but two people who worked with them while they were setting up for their attacks. The two exceptions were the prostitute hired to service the group's leader and the woman who was extracting the information from the Yucca Flats employee: the former didn't know anything that could compromise them, and the latter was deemed to be too much of a risk to kill because she might have left behind evidence to be released on her death.
63	** ''Literature/DebtOfHonor'': Discussed and subverted. The villain hires a programmer to create a computer virus for him to carry out part of the villain's attack. Once the programmer finishes the job the villain considers killing him, but ultimately decides against it because the hacker may have a contingency plan to expose the plot if he's killed.
64	** In ''Literature/TheSumOfAllFears'', the terrorist BigBad does this twice in the course of his plot to nuke the United States. First, he has the East German nuclear physicist who helps them build their bomb executed once it's been completed. Then, he does the same thing to the American collaborator who helps them deliver it. In a memorable subversion, however, the physicist is killed before he can impart a crucial piece of information that causes the bomb's yield to be much lower than intended, providing the clue by which the U.S. is able to unravel the plot.
65	* ''Literature/JaineAustenMysteries'':
66	** In ''Killer Blonde'', [[spoiler:Conchi/Carolee says once she has her inheritance, she plans on making sure the boyfriend who provided her an alibi [[MakeItLookLikeAnAccident meets with a fatal accident]].]]
67	** Happens to Julio the gardener in ''Killing Bridezilla''. He noticed [[spoiler:Conrad Devane]] tampering with the balcony railing, but then made a deal with [[spoiler:him that he would claim he saw a woman on the balcony]] in exchange for a payoff and moving into a fancy house. When Julio went to claim his money, the killer just shot him dead.
68	* ''Literature/JamesBond'':
69	** In ''Literature/{{Thunderball}}'', BigBad Largo has the pilot he bribed to steal two nukes killed, both to avoid having to pay him and so he doesn't start running his mouth to his sister, who is Largo's mistress and ignorant of the plot.
70	** Bond's supposed role as a hired gun in Anton Murik's big plan in ''Literature/LicenceRenewed'' is to assassinate the [[TerroristsWithoutACause terrorist-for-hire]] Franco after he has succesfully collected the money from the extortion of nations. Bond (rightfully) suspects that such fate will befall on him as well after his part.
71	** After the bad guys in ''Literature/TheManWithTheRedTattoo'' gain the control of [=CureLab Inc.=] from Shinji Fujimoto, they have their assassin Kappa stab him to death.
72	* ''Literature/JohnPutnamThatcher'': ''[[spoiler:When in Greece]]'' has the heroes do this. Since they lack the evidence to see the killer convicted of murder in court, they settle for using what evidence they do have to blackmail him into honestly facilitating the business deal that he's been trying to sabotage. As soon as that deal is finalized, the murderer is killed by a friend of the victim who's been helping Thatcher. Thatcher hadn't known she would do that, but he isn't broken up over it.
73	* In ''Literature/KnightsOfTheBorrowedDark'', the Clockwork Three do this to their [[spoiler:magically-enslaved]] thrall, [[spoiler:Grey]], by forcing him to fight [[TheAce Vivian Hardwick]] once he has completed his ManchurianAgent purpose (and ticked them off by attempting to disobey an order). [[spoiler:Vivian manages to [[CurbStompBattle temporarily disable]] but not kill him]].
74	* In the ''Literature/LeftBehind'' prequel books, Marilena Carpathia, the mother of the future Antichrist Nicolae Carpathia, was killed off when Nicolae, still a child, was old enough to be cared for by his mentor Viv Ivins. His two biological fathers, who were living together off payments from the corporation that funded the genetic project that brought forth Nicolae, were later killed off. Jonathan Stonagal, the man who financed Nicolae's birth, upbringing, and rise to power in the prequel stories, was killed off by Nicolae along with his associate Joshua Todd-Cothran when he saw that he no longer needed them.
75	** In fact, this happens to anyone within Nicolae's close circle of friends and associates in the Global Community.
76	* BigBad Sarapen from ''Literature/LonelyWerewolfGirl'' has a human minion who is under the impression that Sarapen will [[VampireWannabe turn him into a Werewolf]] if he performs a certain task. Since Werewolves are born not bit in these books, he gets this trope instead. [[RewardedAsATraitorDeserves Rewarded as a traitor to his species deserves]].
77	* In ''Literature/TheMachineriesOfEmpire'', the Kel Command sends a fleet to execute Jedao and all of his and Cheris' fleet after they're done retaking the Fortress of Scattered Needles. It's implied Nirai Kujen has his hand in this because he's worried that Jedao would do this to ''him'', now that Cheris' mathematical ability makes Kujen no longer a necessary part of Jedao's plans.
78	* In ''Literature/AMagesPower'', [[spoiler:Tasio says this about Aio, his alter ego. Since Eric has gained many other friends, he has played his role in Eric's development]].
79	* In ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn'', the BigBad Storm King rather casually obliterates EvilSorcerer Pryrates after the latter is finished summoning him back into Osten Ard from his exile in undeath. At least, in this case, he has a justification: Pryrates tries to pull a [[TheStarscream Starscream]] on him but forgets that EvilIsNotAToy. And in all fairness, the Storm King did warn him that he would be [[ExactWords first among mortals]].
80	* A rare semi-heroic version happens in ''Literature/TheMentalState''. The resident SociopathicHero, Zack State, convinces the rapists serving time in prison to dig a tunnel connecting the men's prison to the adjoining women's prison. He claims that he wants them to do this so that they can sneak over and take advantage of the residents there in response to their men-hating behaviour. [[spoiler:In actuality, he wants to create a covert means by which both genders can interact more freely and even find genuine romance. Once the tunnel is completed, he warns the women of the rapists' invasion in advance, resulting in the rapists getting ambushed by violent female offenders and having the crap beaten out of them. Even Zack himself calls them foolish for ever trusting him]].
81	* In ''Literature/{{Mockingjay}}'', Coin didn't want Katniss to use her influence to recommend someone else for President after the war, and since she had already united the districts against the Capitol, she tried to pull this on her. By sending her BrainwashedAndCrazy kind-of ex-boyfriend to do it.
82	* In the ''Literature/ModestyBlaise'' novel ''I, Lucifer'', when the villains are abandoning their base before the authorities arrive, BigBad Seff casually shoots his underling Bowker and remarks that his usefulness is ended, since his skills were vital for the scam they were running but they won't be able to do that scam again, and now he is just a loose end that needs tidying up.
83	* ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'': A heroic example. At the start of ''The Lightning Thief'', Sally Jackson is married to Gabe Ugliano, an abusive slob of a man who stinks so bad his stench can mask the scent of a powerful demigod like her son Percy. Once Percy finds a new, safe home and in Camp Half-Blood, Sally [[spoiler:kills Gabe with Medusa's head, sells his petrified corpse as a statue, and uses the money earned from the sale to start a new life as a writer]].
84	* The BigBad of ''Literature/QuiteUglyOneMorning'' has this as his MO. [[spoiler: Doesn't work out so well for him in the end.]]
85	%%* "The Roads We Take" by Creator/OHenry: "Bolivar cannot carry double."
86	* ''Literature/TheRadix'': Right after Jordan Rayne hands the (fake) Radix to Taft-Ryder Farmaceuticals's agent, he shoots her.
87	* In the first book of the ''Literature/RavnicaCycle'', Savra rejuvenates and frees Svogthir, the ancient lich who founded the Golgari Swarm, so the two of them can overthrow the gorgon sisters who currently run the Swarm. Once Svogthir has dealt with the gorgons and reclaimed his leadership of the Swarm, Savra promptly kills him, taking his position and vast magical power for herself. [[spoiler:Savra then ends up on the receiving end of this trope near the end of the book; after faithfully fulfilling her part in [[BigBad Szadek]]'s plan to break the Guildpact, Szadek thanks the loyal Savra by snapping her neck.]]
88	* The [[spoiler:octospiders]] in [[strike:Gentry Lee]] Creator/ArthurCClarke's sequels to ''Literature/RendezvousWithRama'' are ''good'' guys who do this. To themselves, voluntarily.
89	* ''Literature/TheReynardCycle'': This is how [[spoiler: Count Bricemer]] intends to reward the crew of the Quicksilver once they've returned with the [[MacGuffin gem of Zosia]] in ''Reynard the Fox''. [[spoiler: Reynard is smart enough to see this coming from a mile away.]]
90	* ''Literature/TheSecretLifeOfKittyGranger'': When the Russian spies realize that Kitty has followed one of them, the boss gives the order to dispose of the compromised spy, saying, "Our friend at the Ministry of Defense has outlived his usefulness." The spies are captured before they can carry out their order.
91	* A variation in ''Literature/{{Shogun}}''. [[MagnificentBastard Toranaga]] is well aware that Yabu is TheStarscream, and has in fact betrayed him at a potentially crucial time, and this is the official reason for ordering him to commit seppuku. However, Toranaga would not have done this if Yabu hadn't outlived his usefulness at the same time, since Toranaga knew he was treacherous right from the start, and made alliances with him anyway because he was useful.
92	* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':
93	** In [[spoiler:Dontos']] case, Littlefinger points out that the man had fulfilled his purpose -- [[spoiler:delivering Sansa to him]], and the only thing he could do now was betray him, since he would likely drink through the money Littlefinger offered him and then betray them to Cersei for the reward [[spoiler:on Sansa, who was thought to have killed Joffrey]].
94	** [[spoiler: Lysa Arryn! He wedded and (re-)bedded her, and then promptly pushed her out of a ridiculously high window when she became hysterical and threatened/attempted to kill her own niece out of jealousy. She was useful as a stepping stone to power, poisoning her own husband on his orders and later marrying him and granting him a title far above his heriditary station. However, once he married, he had everything she could offer him and no longer needed her.]]
95	** Robb suspects that the Lannisters will have Sansa killed once she gives Tyrion a child who can inherit Winterfell.
96	** When the Freys tell Brynden "The Blackfish" Tully that they'll hang his nephew Edmure unless he surrenders Riverrun, the Blackfish wisely notes that they're planning on killing Edmure anyway, so their threats are empty.
97	* In ''Literature/TheSpeedOfSound'', the Foundation plan to kill Eddie once they get their hands on his echo box, a device that can reconstruct sounds that were never recorded, because he's a liability.
98	* In ''Literature/StarTrekTheEugenicsWars'' Khan is given a recipe for gene-enhanced strep-A that can be used for biological warfare. Once he has the formula down, his first test subject was the man who brought it to him.
99	* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'':
100	** This was mentioned as a common habit of Ysanne Isard in the ''Literature/XWingSeries''. If one of her agents continually succeeds, he would eventually suffer from this trope. If her agents ''fail'', however, they will either face YouHaveFailedMe or be killed by the people they were acting against. This caused loyalty issues in those subordinates smart enough to figure this out.
101	** The planet Despayre, as depicted in the novel ''Literature/DeathStar'', and before that, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSSNonaBw-8#t=2m45s the game "X-Wing"]]. (scroll to 2:45) After all, the Empire couldn't have word getting out about their superweapon before they were ready, could they?
102	** Averted by Thrawn in ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy'' who never does so, and even says he's not in the habit of throwing away resources just because he can't see an immediate use for them. Ironically, this is ultimately what dooms him, all of his mistakes ultimately come from him not killing someone when he should have. His major flaw was in essence thinking too long term, and failing to realize the immediate benefits of an action.
103	** While it doesn't actually ''happen'', this trope is a part of Flim's motivations late in ''Literature/TheHandOfThrawn'' -- he ''knows'' that he's at very great risk of getting killed once his role in the plan of [[spoiler: impersonating Thrawn]] is over, but he's in too deep to just flee, so he takes part in the discussions of the conspiracy and presents arguments for why he will continue to be useful to the point of being needed indefinitely, and for why he has valuable contributions in terms of knowledge and insight.
104	** Played with in ''Literature/DarthPlagueis''. Plagueis has ''not'' outlived his usefulness and never will, he's mastered the Force technique of bestowing youth and vitality on someone, including his apprentice. Thus, he felt secure in his position even after he expended his political usefulness to Sidious, as Sidious will always need him to remain immortal. He didn't count on Sidious deciding to kill him anyway, preferring to be the undisputed ruler of the galaxy and believing he can figure out that Force technique himself.[[note]]Other ''Legends'' stories would show that he never did, but he was perfectly satisfied with other forms of immortality that Plagueis turned his nose up at, so it all worked out for him.[[/note]]
105	* ''Literature/TheTamuli'': [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by Sephrenia in ''The Shining Ones'', when she incorrectly believes she's outlived her usefulness to the other good guys.
106	* ''Literature/ThatHideousStrength'': The Director very deliberately invokes this trope and even discusses it with a main character, fully expecting the demons to kill their MadScientist minions as soon as they're no longer useful. He's exactly right, too.
107	* ''Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium'':
108	** ''Literature/TheChildrenOfHurin'': Instead of the promised reward of the fertile lands of Beleriand, after betraying Maedhros at Nirnaeth Arnoediad, the Easterlings are driven to Hithlum (a depopulated wasteland following the battle) where they are not to exit on pain of death penalty. ''Heavily'' overlaps with RewardedAsATraitorDeserves
109	** ''Literature/BerenAndLuthien'': When Tevildo decides his castle's doorkeeper, Umuiyan, has become too old to being of some use, he carelessly pushes off his minion off the castle's walls so that Umuiyan falls to his death.
110	--->Forthwith they hastened to him from within, and some he bid descend to Umuiyan and bind him and cast him from the rocks 'on the northern side where they fall most sheer, for he is of no use more to me,' he said, 'for his age has robbed him of his sureness of foot'; and Tinúviel quaked to hear the ruthlessness of this beast.
111	* ''Literature/TheTwilightSaga'': In ''[[Literature/Eclipse2007 Eclipse]]'', Jasper recounts his history as a member of a Vampire Newborn Army. Newborns are useful in their first year after being turned, because they are [[SuperStrength super strong]], but after their strength wanes, they are normally killed by their masters.
112	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
113	** In Creator/JamesSwallow's ''[[Literature/BloodAngels Deus Sanguinius]]'', when Sachiel [[HeelRealization realizes the truth]], [[spoiler:Inquisitor Stele]] kills him to foment a battle, and also to get rid of him.
114	** In Creator/GrahamMcNeill's Literature/{{Ultramarines}} novel ''Nightbringer'', after Vedden and his men foment a riot, the ornithoptors they thought would extract them opened fire on them. Then Honan, whose home the attack had been launched from, complained to the conspirators, who handed him over for [[ColdBloodedTorture torture]]. Later, after de Valtos has awoken the Nightbringer, it kills him and several of the Dark Eldar, who were awakening it because they thought it would help them live forever.
115	* In ''Literature/TheWarOfTheFlowers'' Anton Hellebore does this to [[spoiler:the Remover, or [[BodySurf so he thinks]]]]. Unusually his father is very unhappy about this as [[spoiler:the Remover was not only a very useful mercenary, but also owned numerous valuable magical artifacts that Anton burned]].
116	* In the Creator/DaleBrown novel ''Literature/WarriorClass'', BigBad Pavel Kazakov threatens this some times and eventually goes through with it.
117	** In ''Edge of Battle'' Comandante Veracruz tries to do this to [[spoiler:Zakharov, prompting an EnemyMine.]]
118	* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'':
119	** The ''heroes'' pull this in one dark scene. Some of the Shaido who capture and [[MadeASlave enslave]] Faile's group are [[LimaSyndrome sympathetic enough to help them escape]], which Faile's husband doesn't realize when he intercepts them mid-rescue. Rather than try to defuse the situation, Faile and her companions turn on the allied Shaido and help kill them all.
120	** [[spoiler:Galina]] offers to help Faile and her companions escape enslavement if they steal a particular artifact she needs; when they bring it to her, she traps them in a cave-in and leaves them to die. It overlaps with DickDastardlyStopsToCheat because she could have escaped ''with'' them; instead, she sneaks out alone and is promptly recaptured.
121

Context YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness / Literature