Dr. Aurelius and Lieutenant Boggs, were both sitting in chairs in the office of Floor Manager Aronovich Malenkov. They there to convince Malenkov to grant them permission for the 'experiment'. If they were going to going to proceed with their plan, they needed a convincing cover.

The hard part of the cover would not be earning the trust of their Floor Manager; they already had it. As far as Malenkov and the other higher ups knew, Dr. Aurelius and Lieutenant Boggs were completely loyal. While Malenkov thought that Boggs was not as enthusiastic as preferable, all this meant was that Boggs would not be promoted anytime soon.

Dr. Aurelius's refusal to choose who goes to the crematorium would normally raise a red flag, but this is not noticed since the other doctors do not notice it as much as they notice the refusal of Dr. Olybrius; being a psychiatrist and not a neurologist meant that he could purposely miss deal-breaking details about patients and does not have to stand subject to the same scrutiny Dr. Olybrius does. While choosing who dies is voluntary, not doing it means loosing half your rations. Dr. Kurtz was able to reach his lofty position so quickly because he put extra time in the termination choosing. Needless to say, Dr. Aurelius and Dr. Olybrius were not on friendly terms with Dr. Kurtz.

Now Dr. Aurelius and Boggs hoped desperately that Malenkov did not see through their ploy.

Malenkov sat behind a large desk, drinking decaffeinated coffee from a can; a beverage normally never rationed to the masses under the supposedly fair ration system, but that Malenkov drinks a gallon of a day. In front of him were paper copies of the files of Katniss Everdeen and Cato Hardley.

"So tell me, why should I allow these two to have time out of their work each day?"

Dr. Aurelius, being the psychiatrist, explained the false reasons.

"Well, noticed that these two are not adjusting to our way of life as fast as hoped for. Their chips show they are not procreating, and I think you are aware of the little mishap yesterday."

Malenkov was aware of it. Once the four soldiers reached the front of the very long and very slow queue of appeals, he intended to restore their ration cards and pardon them.

"Well, so what? They can be made to understand by force if necessary."

"Be that is it may, I think there is an easier way. Boggs here has a young child still in infancy, and he is a decorated veteran of the Carib campaign. I propose that Boggs and his son go it my apartment so I can teach his son a little about science. The two new citizens will also come along and observe these lessons. This way, while in a safe and controlled environment, these two could be brought around to our way of thinking. Close observation of the child will show them the positives of child bearing and convince them to procreate, where as being around a decorated veteran like Boggs will teach them the superiority of the proletariat."

Malenkov was silent for a moment, with only a look of consideration on his face. He then turned to Boggs, "I take it you would be willing to participate in such an excursive?"

Boggs said, "Oh yes. I've known Dr. Aurelius a long time and can trust him. He's like an uncle to my son, I'm sure he'll love seeing Dr. Aurelius more often. I don't mind the two newcomers sitting in, especially if it will encourage them to have their own kids."

Malenkov thought about this for a while, and said nothing. Dr. Aurelius and Lieutenant Boggs were secretly worried that he would reject their proposal, and that they would have to find a harder way to carry out their plan. Fortunately, their fears were put to rest.

"Okey, I see no reason against it. I will give them two hours a day for these appointments, and they will be right after school. After an amount of time, I will ask you too how the progress is coming along. Don't disappoint me."