Songbird

by, PhoenixBradley

Dedicated to every abusive man I'd probably have blown up a town for.

(Summary: Takes place in Fallout 3. Analise only knew two things. She was born in the vault, and she would die in the vault. But after her father, James, went missing and it was either flee or die, she soon found herself in the Wastelands. With no sign of her father, and no knowledge of the outside world, she wanders blindly until she stumbles into Megaton... and an intriguing opportunity wearing tortoiseshell glasses. Rated M for violence, language, and sexual content. I own nothing.)

"There she is! Open fire!"

The open room vanished from view as soon as it appeared as she slid back and tucked herself in the corner, fumbling for her gun. Of all the mundane things she'd never learned to do properly, why did it have to be reloading? She fought with the pistol for what seemed like hours until she finally had it, and not a moment too soon. A loud blast, followed by a sharp pain in her shoulder nearly made her drop it, but she pointed the barrel at the security officer and fired at him, not bothering to aim for his head, just trying to keep it on his chest which she could easily hit since it was a bigger target. The man collapsed, dead or unconscious she wasn't sure, and she ran to his body, searching it for more bullets and taking his gun for good measure.

She looked around. The only guard there was now laying on the floor but she knew there'd be more and it wouldn't take them more than a few minutes to find her. Why had her father left? And why had he not taken her with him? Had he not known this would happen or had he left her to die? Whatever the reason, she needed to leave, that was apparent. Staying in Vault 101 was no longer an option.

"We are born in the Vault, we die in the Vault." She could hear that quote ringing through her head. Things were never supposed to be this way. Her own father had told her several times that this was the life he wanted for her, to grow old and die in the Vault. But something had to have changed or he would be there.

"Target located!"

She twisted around, spotting the guards running to her and she scrambled to her feet, fleeing for the Overseer's office. The control panel was in there, and from there she'd be able to make her escape, just like her father. Why hadn't he taken her with him?

Bullets flew past her, a second one grazing her leg, causing her to fall. Struggling to get up quickly, she kept running, not bothering to turn and fire back. She already knew they were a better aim than she was, and stopping to fire would only be doing them a favor. Once inside the office she blocked the door to delay them long enough to buy herself time, and ran to the computer. In her pocket she held the Overseer's password which she had taken from his body... his daughter, her oldest friend, would never forgive her. Just another thing she was leaving for good.

She logged in and pulled up the security controls, opening the passage in his office bellow his desk, and after following it she found the entrance to the vault. She stopped and stared at the giant steel door nervously, feeling her heart racing. This was it. Once she stepped out there would be no turning back. She would never see any fragments of her old life again, except of course for her father if she found him.

There was no time to think it out, she already knew what she had to do. Running to the control panel, she activated the door and stood back, an ear shattering screech of metal scraping metal nearly deafening her as it pushed itself back, then rolled to the side. Not hesitating another moment she ran out and left the vault, never to return.

The sun was blinding, but she had never seen the sun before. Even the air around her smelled strange, but not in an unpleasant way. The dirt beneath her felt different from the cold metal she'd spent her life on, and even the look of the clouds above was captivating. She'd spent her life in a metal box but now she was in a wide, never ending world. It was almost beyond her comprehension. She'd spent her younger years imagining what it must look like, but had eventually given up on the dreams. But now...

As the whole idea sunk in she began to feel a helplessness creep over her. Where was she even to begin looking for her father? She could wander for years out here and still not come close. She pulled up her Pip Boy and looked at it. To her surprise there was already a map on it of the Wastelands. There were no towns marked on it yet, save for one... There was a town listed to the south west called "Megaton." How was that even possible? She popped out the data disk and noticed it was a new one, not one she had placed in it. It looked like one of her father's. He must have left it to me in case I'd have to find him... she thought to herself. Then he must have known she'd end up leaving the Vault... though she still wondered why he hadn't taken her with him. Now that she at least had a clue as to where he might be, she knew she was closer to being to ask him everything and hopefully getting answers.

She drew her gun, knowing she'd probably need it, not knowing what was awaiting her, and she headed southwest, keeping an eye on her map. For the first few minutes she looked at everything around her in wonder, but cautiously as well. Every now and then she could spot creatures in the distance but to the best of her ability she did not attract their attention. She proceeded slowly at first, but as she became more and more sure of herself, she picked up the pace, even stopped watching everything as carefully.

Soon in the distance she could spot what looked like large metal walls. Looking at her map to confirm her location, she could tell she was looking at the outside of Megaton. Hopefully they would allow her in. She continued but stopped when she heard stones rustle behind her. Footfalls were skittering her way, and she could hear heavy breathing. She turned and saw a large mole rat with its mouth open wide, ready to take a chunk out of her if it could get close enough. She spun around and began to run as fast as she could, hoping to outrun it.

The mole rat closed in too quickly and leaped, tackling her to the ground, and razor sharp teeth pierced into her already injured shoulder. She let out a cry and forced herself to roll over, knocking it loose, and she got to her feet, drawing her gun and firing. The bullet hit its torso but didn't seem to slow it down. She fired again, then turned, starting to run again. Teeth sank into her ankle and she screamed as she fell again. Barely able to twist around she fired again and it let go. Blood was gushing at an alarming rate from her ankle and she knew immediately the artery had been severed. She stumbled, nearly falling, and shot again at the mole rat. It didn't kill it, but it was enough to drive it back, finally reacting to being injured, and after looking her over for another minute, it turned and scurried off.

Her heart was pounding and her wounds were throbbing. Stumbling forward she made it to the large steel walls and found her way around to the gate. Standing at the entrance was a robot to greet her. "Welcome to Megaton," it said in its monotone computerized voice. "Friendliest town around." The gates opened and she stumbled through, growing dizzier and dizzier by the moment as more of her blood flowed out of her.

"Well I'll be, a newcomer!"

She barely had time to look up before her legs gave out on her and she collapsed. She could hear the footsteps run up to her and hear the voice speak again, ordering for a man named Church, and that was the last thing she remembered before darkness took her.

Colin Moriarty stood behind the counter of his bar, pouring himself the last drops of whiskey in the bottle when he looked up at the sound of the door opening, nodding his head to acknowledge the patron. "What'll it be?" he asked. Lucy West took a seat on the stool and pointed to the beer sitting behind him.

"A beer," she said, placing her caps on the counter.

"Comin' right up," he said, handing it to her.

"Did you hear the news? Another newcomer came in tonight. Badly hurt too."

"You don't say," muttered Moriarty, seeming to not really care as he proceeded to wipe down the counter.

"She was wearing a vault jumpsuit. I'll bet you anything this is her first time in the outside world."

"Really now? Another vault dweller? Well she best know how to handle herself or she could find herself in trouble in no time. And she best be a drinker too," he added with a grin. "Always fancy myself a new patron." Lucy rolled her eyes. Behind her, sitting alone at a table, a man smiled behind his tortoiseshell glasses.

A woman new to the outside world? It could not be more perfect. He sat back and nursed his drink a little longer. Soon enough his plan would be set in motion, as long as he played his cards carefully.

(A/N: R&R. Fallout 3 is the only Fallout game I've played so far so please be merciful if I'm screwing anything up.)