A Game of Chess

Marseilles, France

September 30th 1950

2:40 PM

It's been around five years since World War Two. And yet, tension around the G8 hasn't settled between everyone yet. Well mostly everyone. For the Allies, they were all getting along with each other except for one of the members. 

Ivan didn't seem to see the appeal in getting all buddy-buddy with the rest of the Allies, but it's not like everyone else saw the appeal in getting to know him better either. He didn't really care for them. He had his own family, a union that he had groveled and scraped together. And frankly, he was proud of the family he made even if they did cry sometimes. But there was one person he was missing from the family he was always lacking.

Sitting next to Arthur was Alfred beaming in pride introducing a couple of plans from his little program, he didn't bother to listen. Whatever he was going to spout today, he probably didn't need to know. A pen twirled in his fingers absentmindedly as he continued to stare at the American. 

It would've be so wonderful, just the two of them. But Alfred didn't see it that way. He just wanted world peace, a place where they could live in harmonious agreement. 'How idiotic' He thought to himself. The pen fell from his grasps, though it didn't draw any attention from the current attenders of the meeting which he frankly didn't mind. 

'If you want to survive in this world, you need raw power.' He reminded himself, finding Alfred's belief to be rather innocent and well, unrealistic.

Those were the last words he said to Alfred after their argument. The American shuddered, trying to focus less on Ivan's stares boring into his face and more on his talk about his current funds. Apparently he was doing pretty good. Mostly everyone in the conference room was taking notes. Everyone but the Eastern European group of course. It actually raised his confidence a bit, knowing that everyone was able to follow his presentation.

However the general that accompanied him here seemed less uneasy than all the other generals that had been in the same room with any soviet member. Alfred snuck a glance at the General who President Truman suggested to get closer with.

The general was stoic, he didn't even show emotions at times. Some of the generals Alfred had brought with him to meetings would growl, others would make small snarky comments about the Soviet representatives, but General Marshall just merely eyed them every now and then which to Alfred was suspicious. He continued his monologue, thinking in his mind. 'He acted like he didn't even hate the Communists. He even complimented them once in a speech. He couldn't possibly..be working with them could he?'

Some people thought he was being too paranoid, which in their defense, they weren't wrong. But when placed in his shoes, no one blamed him. Rumor has it, he had the *Red Scare.  And he was willing to do everything in his power to stop his nightmare from happening.

---------------(14 Months ago)---------------

D.C. Washington, United States of America

November 30th, 1949

8:48 AM

The office was cleaned up very well. There was  large American flag pole stationed beside a window that showcased happy citizens trotting around the White House on a sunny day. The desk he was currently sitting down in front of was made by some dark oak he assumed with a small plaque that read 'President H. S. Truman'. Of course, President Truman was also sitting at the desk with Mr. Marshall standing behind him, arms crossed behind his back. They were nice people, well at least to Alfred they were, but something felt off today.