The cats sat on the busy sidewalk, watching the eleven-story office building on Broad Street. The white cat looked at the black cat saying, “Are you certain about this Tom? The rules are not clear in this situation; we don’t have clear guidance on what we can and cannot do about this. If the other judges get wind of this, you may end up judged yourself.”

  The people walking by were too busy to pay attention to the cats. Tom said, “Listen Marrow, the tournament will begin in less than an hour. Not only will the bosses compete, but the prizes will compete also. We’ve prepared as much as possible in the measly 500 years they gave us, and now we are expected to keep the prize intact for the victor. In all that time one question has bothered me since I opened my eyes and said my first word. Why? Why are the rules designed the way they are?

  Marrow simply just said, “It’s not our place to question it, you know that. Though I won’t admit it openly, you usually have a point when it comes to these things. If you’re right though, everything said to a judge will have to be reported after 4PM today. Please remember that old friend.”

  As they sat on the sidewalk they watched a girl walk by in a pink shirt that said Chaos. “There she goes, just like I told you she would.”

  Marrow looked at Tom before saying, “As usual you are correct about things. So, does this mean that you are going to pull your resources from the other districts?”

  Tom said, “No, I’d rather not draw suspicion from the other judges. If I stop searching, the others that are searching will come here and look very carefully. I can’t have that kind of pressure on a sensitive issue like this. Honestly I asked you here today to make a request, or more like a series of requests.”

  Marrow went back to watching the building, he knew that it wouldn’t just be a simple request, this would walk the line between breaking the rules and not. He sighed saying, “What kind of request can’t be sent by letter? Let me answer that, the kind no one can ever find out about.”

  Tom looked at him saying, “I knew you’d understand.”

  Laughing Marrow said, “Alright, make your request.”

  Looking back at the building Tom spoke in a stern voice saying, “I’d like you to reduce resources in your district and reallocate them here, without a paper trail. Then I’d like you to increase the reports that I’m doubling my resources in your district. Lastly, I want you to create a backlog of the reporting on my district.”

  Shocked Marrow asked, “Do you know what that would take? This isn’t just a request; this is a fine line of deception… You’re almost declaring war here!”

  Tom said, “I’m not asking you to lie about the important things, just slow the information flow down. I’m only asking you to buy me a little extra time.”

  Marrow said, “You asked me to lie about the resources, you know I’m required to report all new allocations to everyone.”

  Tom sat silently, he knew the time was drawing near. If he could convince Marrow, then maybe the tournament stood a chance. Maybe.. He said, “I know what I saw Marrow, and we are supposed to be impartial. This is being impartial, because the tournament is unfair!”

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  Marrow considered Tom’s words very carefully. They both knew the rules like they’d crafted it themselves; they understood the tournament intimately. That said though, he did have weird feeling about the structure it followed. “Alright, you’ve been right about everything so far, doubting you now would be unwise on my part. I will provide my full support of this operation as long as it protects the integrity of the tournament.”

  Tom was surprised saying, “You can’t be serious? If you provide your full support then that will get rid of any plausible deniability you may have. If they decide to judge me then they will judge you too.”

  Marrow calmly said, “500 years we animals have put together a tournament for the Gods, and in that time you have been one of the most dedicated to the rules. Therefore, if you think this is the best course of action, then I’m in support of it. There is one thing I’d like to know though.”

  Tom asked, “Alright, what is it?”

  Marrow said, “Last time we met like this, you said something about a fourth option on how this ends. Is that what this is all about? Are you trying to get an unrecorded outcome?”

  Shaking his head Tom said, “Honestly Marrow I couldn’t care a less about the outcome of it. I just believe in the fairness of the tournament, that’s all.”

  Marrow looked pleased as he said, “Of course you do, we all know you are the judge of fairness. I just had to make sure that you hadn’t lost sight of that. You and your resources have my entire district at your disposal. The Goddess Sea Food District and the judge of statistics are in full support of you. We are now willing participants in your plan; whatever happens to you will be our fate as well. All requests you make of us, will be made possible, you have my word.”

  Tom breathed a sigh of relief saying, “Thank you Marrow, I really appreciate how much you are risking helping me. If I didn’t believe this was the only way to keep things fair, I wouldn’t do this. This is the most important thing I can do to uphold my oath to the tournament, even if the other judges disagree.”

  Marrow said, “Just like you said, the other one has arrived.” Another girl made her way down the street towards the office building. Though they couldn’t see the name on her shirt they both knew it was Prosperity.

  Tom said, “The exact same thing I’ve already seen… Has this been enough proof for you?”

  With great care, Marrow said, “After five centuries of working together you probably didn’t need to prove anything, I’d have listened to you with an open mind just off of that principle alone. However, this does help alleviate some of the anxiety I have about siding with you on this. The only anxiety I have left is one thing, what if they are right Tom? What if it’s actually contagious? What then?”

  Tom sternly spoke, “That is not my concern Marrow, it’s fair. Honestly speaking though, I hope it is. It would serve them right.”

  Marrow said, “Hmm… I suppose, but you may make us a target. Is that something that you can live with?”

  Tom looked at him saying, “I was given 500 years to prepare a fair tournament. Marrow, they gave me 500 years to judge the boundaries of the tournament, and they are not fair! Then the one thing that could happen to make it fair is judged to be a nonparticipant! I won’t have it, this is willing participation, I’ve judged it as fair. If you know me like I think you do, then you know it will happen the way I said.”

  Marrow asked, “Do you ever wonder why you dream about the future of the tournament and the rest of the judges don’t?”

  Tom went back to looking at the building. He said, “It’s futile to wonder why, it just is, but yes. I’ve wondered for a very long time. I like to think it’s the only way to keep the tournament fair..”

  Both cats stood up at the same time looking at each other, Marrow asked, “Did you feel that?”

  Tom said, “Its started, they’re all awake now.”

  Marrow said, “That means I should get back to my district then. Let me know what the next move is when it’s time. I’ll even bring some good wine next time.”

  Tom laughed nervously, “Thanks again old friend, for everything. Also be safe out there, everything is going to be different from now on.” The two cats parted ways, Tom made his way to the office building.