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[indent][i]See the people, Oliver Queen. 

See how they have suffered. How they continue to suffer. Entire homes leveled, reduced to concrete debris and shards of glass. Rebar crosses to mark their graves. Filthy water, marred by blood and lead and shit; watch how it runs down their chins, soaks into their tattered and fetid clothes. It is the only water they have, and they drink it with animal desperation. They care not for the disease it will bring them. 

Look at the children, sitting in these ruined streets. They have endured much these past few months. Their hollow eyes look upon the world, devoid of passion. Innocence is alien to them. They have seen far too much: brothers crushed by monolithic brick, sisters killed by cruel fever. Starvation, however, is familiar – their stomachs cry out, begging for nourishment. Most have not eaten in days. Some, weeks. They will die soon. 

See the people. Watch as they turn against each other. Their lives are reduced to that of violence and hunger, inflicting horrors upon one another for the meagre hope of survival. You can relate, can’t you, Oliver? You remember how it feels. Why, just four months ago, you were still living that nightmare. But now, here you are. Back in civilised society. Where men can fly, and women carry planes with their bare hands; where your city slowly changes, its people left behind to suffer, and starve, and die. 

Yes, the earthquake has taken much from them. The question is, Oliver Queen…

… what will you give back?
[/i][/indent]
[hr]
[indent]“So what do you want us to do, Oliver?”

They sat in Walter Steele’s corner office, situated high within Queen Industries’ glass tower. Well-furnished, decorated with navy blues and ivory whites; Walter had made himself right at home. He sat across from Oliver in an armchair, bald and dark and immaculate, not a wrinkle to be found on his pinstripe suit. Behind him, the window looked out onto Orchid Bay, monoliths of industry rising up to meet them. 

[color=0fb287][b]“Send aid into the Glades,”[/b][/color] said Oliver, [color=0fb287][b]“Set up emergency shelters, soup kitchens. Help with the cleanup, hand out bottled water. We can help these people.”[/b][/color]

Walter sighed. “I hear you. I do. But all of that – it’s not as simple as me clicking my fingers and just – just making it all happen. What you’re talking about takes time. It takes money, and planning, and resources we don’t have. It’s a [i]colossal[/i] task, Oliver.”

[color=0fb287][b]“Right, but this is a multi-billion dollar company. Whatever resources you don’t have, you can get.”[/b][/color]

“Oh, it’s that easy, is it?”

[color=0fb287][b]“I’m not the businessman, Walter. You tell me.”[/b][/color]

“Well, frankly, no. It’s not,” said Walter. He gave another long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb. “Queen Industries is struggling, Oliver. How did the National Voyeur put it…? We’re ‘a sinking ship with a stagnating business model.’ I need to focus on fixing the leaks before I start pouring money into some new venture, no matter – ”

[color=0fb287][b]“Oh, don’t give me that bull – ”[/b][/color]

“ – [i]No matter[/i] how noble or worthy the cause.”

Oliver clenched his teeth. Around and around they go, excuse after excuse for anything he might have to say. A thing like this… it shouldn’t be a money issue. He came back from the Island four months after the earthquake hit. Another four months had passed since then. That’s eight months that the people in the Glades have gone without shelter, or food, or clean water. 

[color=0fb287][b]“Have you been to the Glades lately?”[/b][/color] he asked.

Walter hesitated. “No.”

[color=0fb287][b]“I have,”[/b][/color] said Oliver. [color=0fb287][b]“I’ve seen how they live there. Every hour’s a struggle. They’re sick, and they’re cold, and they’re starving. The kids just sit there, looking, but you can’t tell if they’re looking [i]at[/i] you or [i]through[/i] you, and… it’s like they’re stranded on their own island, Walter. I can’t live like this, knowing that.”[/b][/color]

Another sigh. “I understand, Oliver. But please, [i]you[/i] have to understand – this sort of thing, I can’t make it happen by myself. I’ll have the board to convince, and with the current state of the company, I just – I don’t see it happening. I’m sorry.”

[color=0fb287][b]“All I’m asking is for you to [i]try[/i], Walter.”[/b][/color]

“And you’re not going to let this go, are you?”

Oliver smiled. [color=0fb287][b]“Not a chance.”[/b][/color]

The older man stood, pacing to the window overlooking Orchid Bay. He seemed to stand there for an eternity. 

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll try.”
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