"Since when did you get sentimental about those slum parasites?"

"Have you ever left your fancy cars, your mansions, your 'economic confinements', to see what is really going on with the world? I, like all of you, have had the luxury of bountiful daily feasts to the point that we can share them with our pets without regret. I even did so for the birds in the park for years now. But when a little girl got her hands on the scraps of bread I left, her face showed signs of real joy! How is it that one scrap of bread, no bigger than the palm of my hand, can bring more joy to a child than the whole lot of you combined!"

"It's because of them that we are struggling to obtain control and formulate a stable economic system! Their insatiability makes it impossible to know how to determine fair distribution!"

"Like you would have made a 'fair' system anyway! All you'd do is benefit this group even further, without opposition! Don't you get it!? You're all living for yourselves in the present! Can't you see the big picture? Money alone won't sustain us. When we die, that's it! Do you want to be remembered as selfish assholes by future generations? The future is not ours, but that of the children of the entire city, including those 'slum parasites,' as you call them! Please, open your eyes and look to the future!!"

This aaaggggaaaiiiinnnnnn.........

"And if you're really concerned about yourselves, think about the workers in our businesses! With Terraz up in flames, how are they going to be fed? Their business is still our business, and we cannot ignore them!"

"Don't talk to me about Terraz! My son died in that hellhole!"

"Knowing him, he probably bit off more than he could chew, given his inflated ego. I can guess he deserved what he got. Perhaps he might have deserved more!"

"Why you insensitive little geezer!"

"How am I less sensitive than you!? You only thought of him as someone to carry on the legacy of your business! Never once have you been like a father to him, or even a real role model to anyone! Besides, what makes me insensitive, when I'm trying to argue in favor of the poor!?"

This is so tiresome... It's like some bad First Age sitcom where every episode's plotline is exactly the same as the last one... Some high school anime come to mind...

Pppiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!

(Finally, something to do...)

"Hello, you've reached the New Vegas government branch. Please state your name and your reason for calling."

"Hey, C.C.?"

!!!

"Yami," I whisper. "How'd you get this number?"

"Hhheeellloooo! I'm in the newspaper business. I know everything public going on right now. Including how they got a pretty new girl as a secretary for the government branch."

"Haha..." I say, struggling to put energy behind my sarcasm. "Real funny."

"How're things looking?"

"Sadly, not much better..."

"Shriveled old dicks still arguing about the same shit?"

"If you want to put it crudely, yes."

"Damn, how did they fuck this shitting hellhole up so badly?"

"Mind the profanity please..."

"Alright, alright, sorry. Anyway, any leads?"

"From these guys?"

"Good point. Any word from the newbie?"

"Haven't gotten word from Phoenix yet. They should have the symbol on them somewhere though."

"Sure hope so. The sooner we leave this mother-fuckin dump the better."

"It's our job to make sure it doesn't stay a 'mother-fuckin dump', yesli pomnish'?"

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, if you hear anything about any strikes or social uprisings, let me know. That could lead us to our targets. I'm sure those old farts will at least complain about that."

"Will do. Pokeda!"

With that, I hang up the phone.

(Vsyo-taki, working with him is equally tiresome. I need a popsicle.)

"Crystal!"

Upon hearing my name, I quickly straighten up my workspace, hiding any evidence of having taken a nap.

"Yes, ma'am?"

Luckily, it's just the other secretary for this boring job. The rich seem to think that shorter shifts for even lower wages will satisfy the people, as long as it makes the bosses look like they're giving more job opportunities. As for me, I'm glad the shifts are short. Gives me more time to gather intel.

"Asleep on the job again?"

"Please don't tell."

"As long as you don't get caught, I don't care. Ever since those guys prevented the lower class from coming in here and filing complaints, work's been really slow. You're lucky to have a phone call, considering that most people are too broke to use telephone booths."

"Anyway," I say. "Your shift."

"Thanks, I guess. Where you going?"

"First, to get something to cool down with...."

"Then I will go looking for a new coworker."