Jean looks at the ruffled and ruined state of his second floor office. Papers were spilled everywhere and his computer had been thrown onto the ground. Behind him, there was a hole in the door, where the door knob should had been. Most likely, the perpetrators had manage to get into by knocking out the old knob with a good hit from a rifle butt.
For the second time this week, Validean soldiers had broken into his press office and attempt to sabotage his local newspaper operation. Once again, he will need to stay the night to clean up. It seem that some of the Validean officers weren't too please about him writing articles vying against them. Too bad for them, free press will stay here whether they want it or not.
Jean walks over to his cracked computer case. It was an DAS 328, old by today's standards, but it gets the typing done. Correction, got the typing done. He bents down and pops out the Dip disk from the 328. Good thing he saves his files, he will finish this week's publication on his home computer.
The door of the office suddenly opens, and a young man in a black coat walks in. The man swears as the tatter office comes into full view.
"Jergen crackers, what the hell happen?"
"Break in Sam, break in."
"By who?"
"Who else?"
"Whatever happen to the sanctity of private property?"
"Probably doesn't exist in Validus, come on in sit down. Watch your steps."
Sam tip toes past the minefield of papers, and finds a seat in the back of the room, an antique mahogany chair by the window. "I see they didn't take my favourite chair, they're not complete douche bags it seems..." Sam half jokes.
Jean lifts his useless computer off the floor, and carries it outside, placing it somewhere in the long corridor for the old caretaker to throw out tomorrow morning. He walks back into the office, steps on a few pens and notes before dropping into his seat at his desk.
"So what do you have for me today?" he asks as he leans back on his chair.
"Well, other than that little incident last night where a bunch of off-duty Valideans messed around in the theater at Oak Street, I heard Barkerfield just voted into the League. Cooperson and Anila have their ballot set for next week, I expect them to follow suit. All round good news, except a few misdemeanors with press oppression...like the case we have here."
"That sounds like good news. I believe the Valies won't mind if I write something other than them tattling with the business of our local entertainment establishments, a front page cover on the FVM. Sounds good?"
Sam grinned. "You're the writer, I'm just your info rat."
"Still a little etchy after they kick you out from your writing position back in Hillside Times?"
"I quitted. It appeared my boss had something against me doing a piece on the inadequate sources of Hillside. Well, that's all pass and gone. I'll be off to pick up a donut at Hammy and Tea. Be back in ten minutes to help you clean up."
"I appreciate it."
"Just don't forget to write my paycheck Jean, you know how I'm looking forward to that trip to Aiko Odori."
"Won't dare, not on my life."
"How about on the Republic?"
"I'm not that positive I can make your due."
"You bastard."
