Waking up to the sound of the alarm on his Pip-Boy, Charles groggily got out of bed.

Though tired, he knew today wouldn't be too difficult—just waiting for the Boomers' vote and dealing with minor security issues in New Vegas. Security services were offered for a price in outer Freeside but were free in inner Freeside and the Strip since taxes covered those areas. Charles found it ironic, knowing his father hated the NCR for their high taxes. To be fair, New Vegas taxes were much lighter, mostly used to fund the Security Agency. The Agency provided a human touch to security compared to the Securitrons.

Charles used his Pip-Boy to call Iris. When she answered, he said,

"Sorry for coming home late, Iris. I had to deal with the Boomers so they could help the NCR with their planes."

"Yeah, we heard about that. It's fine, Charles. Beats drinking at the Wrangler all day, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, but I'm just worried it might be the wrong thing to do. Dad was telling me a few days ago that it wouldn't be the worst thing if the NCR fell."

"I think he means if it's invaded by the Anti-NCR League. If they take the NCR, it could attract customers here. But if the Legion takes Hoover Dam, then they'll go for New Vegas. They might cut off access to the dam, and what happens then, Charles? Chaos. Now, I'm not 100 percent sure House believes that, but spending most of my time here with him—and with him having no one to talk to besides us and his AI hookup—I think that's what he thinks. But you could ask him yourself."

"Yeah, I think you explained it fine, babe. I don't need to talk to him now. Who knows, that Jane program might be entertaining him now, if you get what I mean," said Charles sarcastically.

"Yeah," Iris said, chuckling. "Also, I almost forgot to mention—the Anti-NCR League just completed their invasion of New Reno, and rumors suggest they're planning to hit Arroyo soon. Now, I'm no political genius like your father, Charles, but from what I see, you've got to hurry things up. While I and your father have said it wouldn't be horrible for the NCR to fall, we don't want them to divert troops from the Mojave to the north. That would leave the Legion free to capture New Vegas. With all the tension building between outer and inner Freeside and the Strip, it would be much easier for the Legion to control the population. Even with rumors of their brutality, people might choose not to believe it because of their hatred for us and the NCR."

"You know, sometimes I doubt our mission here in New Vegas. But then I realize the people we deal with don't understand the necessity for New Vegas to survive and for Father to help us achieve our destiny in technological dominance and space travel."
"Yeah, you know, back in the day, I believed the rumors about House, just like people do about us. But then I realized this isn't some isolated crazy man—it's a genius who genuinely cares. The comparison back in the day between Robert House and Howard Hughes was always made in bad faith. People assume businessmen look down on everyone, only caring about themselves, yet they provide services people want and give back.

"I believed that stuff growing up because, you know, I grew up in a poorer household. But when I met you, Charles, my whole outlook changed," said Iris. Then, softening her voice, she said, "Remember when you and my parents first met? They believed the same lies as I did, but once they got to know each other, their whole perspective changed. It's sad they couldn't live to see what we've built here", said Iris in a gloomy tone then hardening her tone she said, "But anyways, that's not the point, The point is we've got to find a way to change the outlook of ourselves for the people of New Vegas."

"It's harder than it seems, love," Charles replied. "They don't know us on a daily basis, and if we try to get to know them, they don't want to know us. They'll always believe the lies about us unless we're engaging with them on a close, day-to-day basis. And that's impossible to do since we have our own lives and, frankly, I don't care much about their lives either."
"Yeah, that'll always be impossible," Iris said. "But anyways, I've got to work on refining the electrical flow from here to Hoover Dam but good talk, Charles."
After Iris ended the call, Charles cleaned himself up in the bathroom, staring at his reflection in the mirror, his skin was still decaying as ever but he didn't care and he was only thinking about the boomer vote.

Once he was dressed and armed, his Pip-Boy lit up with a call from House. Answering, Charles heard his father say,

"Hey, son. I heard from Iris you're having doubts about your deal with the Boomers, so I'd like to confirm what she told you. Yes, holding New Vegas from the Legion is imperative, but if the NCR falls to the Anti-NCR League, it wouldn't be terrible."

"Yeah, that's what I thought, just wanted to confirm," Charles replied.

"Don't doubt yourself too much, son. There's a reason I give you so much independence on the job—I know you're doing the right thing, just like now. Just don't be like Benny," House said sarcastically.

"Of course, why would I?" Charles said before ending the call.

Heading to the elevator, Charles descended to the ground floor of the Lucky 38 and stepped outside.
Walking toward the Wrangler, Charles noticed people watching him, but nobody approached.

Once inside, he spotted Joseph and Karl drinking at a table in the lobby and not in the private room. Sitting down with them, he said,

"Gosh, it's going to be a boring day, just waiting for the Boomers to vote. Anyway, do you guys know how people are taking the NCR at Benver recently?"

"I think the animosity has eased a little," Karl Replied. "I know it's implied in the document that the NCR would help control outer Freeside with us, but obviously, that's not the case since control is mostly in Benver."

"Yeah, we should probably follow up on our words soon, even if it builds more animosity—preferably once the Legion attacks Hoover Dam so we can put everything into defending New Vegas," Charles said.

At that moment, Francine Garret approached their table.

"Want anything, Charles?" she asked.

"No, I'm fine. But do you know where Dan is?"

"Probably out and about in Freeside. Not many people are out here in the mornings, which is why I work then. If you want to see him, your best chance is at night. He's a hard man to find during this time," she replied.

"Yeah, your family's run this place for years, it seems, and we all know how hard Dan is to find," Charles said, laughing.
"Yup, but I gotta get back to work now," Francine said before heading back to her duties.

Joseph leaned in slightly and said, "Well, anyway, guys, I wanted to talk about something a bit off-topic here. Have you noticed the way Lieutenant Cromwell looks at and talks about Theodore?"

Then once Joseph said that both the Captain and Lieutenant came into the wrangler which Charles found very ironic.
They looked rather out of place because not many NCR soldiers came into the Wrangler and mostly stayed on the Strip.

The other people in the Wrangler clearly noticed them, and from their faces, Charles could tell they weren't fond of the soldiers comparatively to the Strip where they were welcomed then Charles then reflected on how people thought about the EONV. While opinions in Outer Freeside ranged from neutral to positive or negative, the views in Inner Freeside were much more cohesive, with most people appreciating them. On the Strip, however, people didn't care much about them unless the caps were pouring in.
Then the NCR soldiers came up to the EONV and the captain said
"Well, the Boomers finished the vote pretty early. They will trade with us and New Vegas now and forever."

"Hmm, they finished that early and did a little extra for us, huh," said Charles, quite surprised. "And I didn't even get to double down on them in blackjack. A shame they couldn't get the vote closer," said Charles.