"Sara," his voice was calm and firm. "This the best chance we have."

"It's too risky. There must be a better idea you can think of."

"There isn't. This will work. Trust me."

"Ha, that's easy for you to say." She began to pace slowly as she voiced her thoughts. "You'll be behind the scenes the whole time. No one will know of your involvement and you're not the one who has to die."

"You won't have to either if we follow this plan with exact precision, and I mean exact."

"Is this all a ruse because you caught me surveilling you for Ra's? Why don't you just kill me now rather than go through this elaborate scheme?"

Malcolm Merlyn shook his head. "It's not like that, Sara. I don't want you dead. Your family has always been friends of mine and I'm impressed by your ability and determination to survive. I wanted you here. I came back to Starling City and made my presence known so that Ra's would send someone to watch my every move, and of course I knew it would be you. You're one of the best in the League with surveillance, and your obvious ties to the city would be enough cause for you to want to come." Merlyn smirked. "The only downside to sending you is that I find your movements to be slightly predictable since we were both trained by Al Ow-Al in the art of surveillance."

Sara's stance and expression became defensive. "You're mocking me. I don't need to hear anymore of this. And you don't know if it will work." She turned to leave and reached her hand for the door.

"Actually, I do, Sara." His voice dropped in volume. "I did it."

Sara froze mid-step and slowly turned around, processing what he said. "You did? You created it? And it works?"

Merlyn's grin widened. "Yes. It has been tested and works perfectly. It will work for you."

Sara's brow furrowed as she considered this new information while Merlyn continued. "This is the pivotal piece of the plan and of your concern, is it not? And now we have it and can proceed."

"Maybe, but it's far from my only concern. Everyone closest to me is going to be a puppet in this plan. I don't want to do that to the people I care about. They're going to get hurt in more ways than one and it will be because of me."

Malcolm shook his head, "You can see it that way if you wish, but you know this is the best plan we have. We both stand to benefit immensely from seeing Ra's al Ghul dead. It will free our lives."

"So our personal gain is sufficient cause for his death?"

Malcolm scoffed, "Has the assassin in you become soft, Ta-er al-Asfer? It seems the Arrow's morals really are starting to take root in you."

"If they are then I don't have a problem with that," she responded firmly. "I need to hold on to whatever light is still inside of me."

Merlyn took a deep breath, trying to find the right words that could persuade her. "I know you feel like you sold your soul to the Devil by joining the League, Sara, but you didn't. You certainly aren't the same girl who stepped onto that boat with playboy Oliver Queen seven years ago. Everything you've done - every lie, every murder, every deception - has been done to keep yourself and the people you love alive. That is nothing to be ashamed of."

Sara dropped her head, never fully convinced that she was a hero in any sense. "It probably would have been more noble to sacrifice my life at the hands of Ra's rather than dedicate it to him and his mob."

"You have to get that kind of thinking out of your head, Sara. This isn't a question of nobility; it's a question of survival, and you are still here to attest to that fact. Do you really think that if you had died at the hands of the League all those years ago that the heroic acts of The Canary would have been fulfilled by someone else? I've kept a close watch on events in Starling City and I know of many selfless things you have done to save your family, friends, and countless others that the Arrow would not have been able to accomplish without your help. There is a reason you've survived all this time. And if that's not enough, you know that as long as Ra's is alive your life belongs to the League. You may get the occasional assignment near Starling City and get a glimpse of your family, but you'll never be free to be with them or anyone else that you love. Ra's has his ideals of justice and he doesn't feel the need for love; he only feels the need for control. Sara Lance really will be gone for good and you will have to face being a killer for the rest of your life."

Both were silent as Sara carefully weighed Malcolm's words and the implications of this plan. "Ra's has done terrible, indescribable things in his life - many I'm sure we don't even know about, but it is because of him that we were both trained and it is because of him that I am still alive."

"The credit for your survival after the Amazo fiasco does not directly belong to Ra's. You know that."

"Nyssa," she said in a barely audible whisper.

Merlyn nodded.

"I can't do this to her."

"You won't be doing it," he responded coolly. "With all luck it will be Oliver."

"But he will try to kill Ra's al Ghul, the Head of the Demon, because of me. You'll frame the League for my murder, won't you?"

"Something like that. For now, don't worry about more than the part you need to play. I will brief you on more details once that phase is over. We need you to focus on executing your part perfectly, not only for your own life, but for the sake of your friends."

"But are my friends really going to believe that I was just killed by the League when I just rejoined it? One minute I'm talking with my sister and the next I've taken three arrows to the chest and fallen to my death with absolutely no defensive wounds? I think I should be insulted that you would have me die without putting up a fight at all. Doesn't that seem completely uncharacteristic of me?"

"It does, which is why even you will need to be surprised to make the act complete."

"That doesn't make sense. What do you mean?"

"I'm afraid that is one element I can't let you in on just yet, but suffice it to say that it is the essential piece of the puzzle that will get Oliver to challenge Ra's. Don't look so concerned, Ta-er al-Asfer, just remember to be mindful of your surroundings so that you fall just right. Maneuver your fall incorrectly and it will break your neck or back, resulting in paralysis or worse."

"I am always mindful of my surroundings, Al-Saher, and I will trust this magic act of yours."

"And don't think the significance of that trust goes unnoticed. I know your instinct has rooted out every lie you faced while working for the League, which is why you were one of our most valued interrogators."

"Yes," Sara reflected back on the many memories she had of torturing men for their secrets.

"That is a skill I learned from Ivo and perfected in the League. A skill that I hate, but it has honed my ability to perceive any deception."

Malcolm nodded. "And I have a feeling you are not done employing that skill just yet."

A brief silence passed as they were both consumed in their own thoughts.

Sara's voice was resolute when she spoke again: "Laurel."

"What about your sister?" Malcolm asked with a quizzical look.

"She has to know-"

"Absolutely not." He waved off the idea before she could finish her sentence.

"Listen to me, Al-Saher! I will not put her through this again. I was already dead to her for six years when it wasn't true. Besides, she can be of aid us. If we have someone on the other side helping to convince everyone that I'm really gone then her part to play will prove to be incalculable. You can't deny that."

Merlyn pondered this idea for a moment and an amused grin spread across his face. "You're right. She could prove to be very useful in this scheme if she can put on a good act."

"Oh, believe me," Sara laughed. "If there is anything my sister is good at, it's pretending and putting on a show. Plus, I'm going to need someone to fill my shoes while I'm gone, and I think she can do it."

"Very well. We will let her in on my terms."

"Fine. Now, tell me exactly what you envision for this plan - I need every detail you can give me."