Scene: Arwen's Office

The nuisance is gone. Alter promptly shattered the glass in the garbage can. Arwen looked at him.

"What?"

"You two should get along."

"That is not necessary."

"Alter, you and Nils are the next generation of Arsenian leaders."

Alter dismissed the idea. "I've never heard of a country having two Prime Ministers."

"Nils may not have the cunning, nor intelligence, to navigate politics successfully, but do not forget the opinions of the people, for the ballot decides the victor."

...

"Alter."

"I won't forget."

"Good."

Silence.

Arwen mulled over the sketches Nils left. "Was it not amusing, what I said?" Alter stayed quiet.

Arwen finished his drink and dryly said, "Your silence speaks volumes."

"I did not know he could draw."

Arwen poured himself another glass, "We all have our secret hobbies."

"Even you?"

Arwen smiled. "Light espionage."

"I wouldn't call it that if you do it to your own country."

"Don't be so particular."

Alter shrugged and approached the bookshelf, taking out the book he had been holding when Nils arrived. The book wasn't really a book, but a binder disguised as a book. He sat on the couch and opened it.

"Are they there?" Asked Arwen.

"Only Louis Mack. Haven't got the other one's picture. I assume he isn't important."

"And Mack is?"

Alter slapped the pages with his hand, "Ten years we've been planning this. I can't remember what half these people are on the List for. If they are here, it means they committed an offense we at the time deemed fitting for their inclusion and future elimination."

Arwen strode to the window, pushing a curtain aside. The sun had set and the street lights lit one by one. Arwen saw Nils walk down the steps of Parliament.

"What a coincidence," he murmured.

Alter shut the book. "Do you think he knows?" They prepared for years to thoroughly clean the country and then, on the day they were to execute the plan, the smiling fool waltzes in with his ridiculous request as if he knew.

"No," Arwen replied, turning, "This is a sign marking the path we walk as right."

Alter followed him to the empty space between the windows. "Thought you weren't superstitious."

"The world gives you instances where you think fate is at play. It makes you wonder if you're delusional-"

"-so it's best not to wonder."

Arwen pressed a specific part of the empty wall and the floor beneath him disappeared. He plummeted. Alter half expected a crack and a groan of pain, but the old man was far too sturdy. He leaped down into a small underground room lined with weapons and uniforms used for clandestine operations.

Arwen tossed a rifle to Alter, saying, "Just like old times."

Alter caught it.

"Just like old times."