Chapter 1: The Water Chip

A loud ringing filled the room, soon followed by the smell of smoke and a loud tink. The room echoed for a moment until the sounds were interrupted by the sounds of a speaker "You missed, aim again take another shot.". The speaker's words fizzled out as the hundred year old technology attempted to keep up with the long periods of use. A young man reloaded his pistol with a secondary clip on his belt, with a sigh he took aim again at a target against the wall. Memories of a robotic voice filled his head, "Jack Dundaman has been selected to find the water chip for vault 13.". He fired at the target, his hands still worn and weary from the many shots before. Hours passed in that room of reprimands for missed shots, and a steady pile of used bullets hit the ground. The memories of outrage raging throughout the vault followed by himself as his parents argued with the overseer were all the young man could think of the pass the time. Another reload, another shot. Bullet after bullet hit the wall. "According to the vault tec rules, your son is an adult. He has to follow the same rules as any adult within the vault. He will search for a water chip as has been determined by the vault computing system.". Hours passed as more and more shots hit and missed its target until eventually the speaker still filled with small amounts of static spoke "That's enough, report to the overseer then prepare to face the wasteland.".

Jack exited the training room, his arms still sore from firing the pistol given to him. Along with a small knife it would be all he had to protect himself in the dangers of the wasteland. He placed the pistol in a holster at his belt and spent a few minutes making sure he could get the weapon out quickly in an emergency situation. He walked down the halls of his home, vault 13 ignoring the whispers of the residents he passed by until he arrived at the overseers office. The old overseer's calm smile filled his gaze. His white beard and wrinkled face showed many years of experience. "Ah you're here good, so you know what your mission entails?". Jack nodded "I have to find a replacement water chip right? Then bring it back here?". The old man nodded and followed his words. "Yes, the computers estimate the vault has about 150 days until our rations run out, we may be able to last a while longer but I believe it best you return within that time.". The elderly overseer picked up a small device from a nearby table and handed it to Jack. "This is a pip-boy 2000 this device will tell you how long you have as well as keep track for things along the way, it's small enough to fit in your pocket too.". Jack took the device and examined it, a small cartoon man in a vault suit similar to him stood in the corner giving a thumbs up. Jack tested the different buttons and when he was satisfied put the device in his pocket.

The overseer took a few steps closer to the boy and put his hands on his shoulders. "Listen, I know you're trying to hide that you are scared, but know that I wouldn't have authorized you to go out if I didn't believe you could do this. You're an adult now, and no matter what anyone in this vault says your parents included, you are more than capable to do this.". Jack looked towards the floor and tried to give a smile in response to the overseer's words, but in truth he was still horrified. From a young age all he heard about the outside of his vault was how dangerous it was, how anyone who wants to leave vault 13 is accepting their own deaths. No amount of pistol training or kind words was going to change the simple fact that Jack was young, he had only just became 16 a few weeks ago. When the vault computer decided he would be the one to exit the vault he had already accepted that he was going to die. His thoughts were interrupted by the overseer's words, "Did you already say your goodbyes to your family?" Jack nodded raising his head back up to look at the overseers face. "Alright good, then it's time for you to begin your journey. For the good of the vault.".