Okay first an authors note. First off this story will be almost entirely OC's so don't expect to see characters from Fallout 1, 2, 3, NV, Tactics, or BOS. Second it's also an original place(Seattle.) Just a few warnings. Also last warning I'm not that much of a fan over the first chapter. It pretty much just introduces characters. If you read the description you should be fine except. Ok that's all I have to say, so I hope you enjoy.
Chapter 1: Exodus
Three years... three years learning how to do the same job. All that time... and it was my first day. I woke up tired, as usual. I stretched, got up and went into my bathroom. I threw some water in my face, then did something that annoys me a good deal. I looked into the mirror. I don't know why, but this frustrates me to no end. What was I expecting. I looked like I was a fourteen year old girl when in reality I'm a sixteen year old girl. I know it's petty, but it's real frustrating.
Anyway I had brown hair that went down to my neck. I was slightly paler than most Vault 47 residents, that's because I tended to work in the lower levels where they didn't install the lights designed to simulate the sun. Instead we got fluorescent lights which made everything in low levels unnecessarily pale and depressing.
I then proceeded to put on my standard Vault 47 jumpsuit and lab coat. Then it took me five minutes to find my Pip-boy 2000. No not 3000 2000 there's a difference. 2000's are handhelds... and worse. Anyway I found it, and left.
I took my usual path until I reached the Atrium, from there I saw my thirteen year old brother and some of his dickhead friends leaning by the doorway to the hall that led to the school house. From there it became my goal to get past him without being noticed.
I got about half way across the Atrium before I heard." Hey sis!"
I sighed annoyed grumbled and continued walking. He wouldn't stop though
"Hey sis! Sis! Ah what's the matter sis now that you're working ya don't got time to talk?" He shouted.
"Yes in fact that is the case," I said putting on an obviously fake smile.
"What's wrong sis don't have time to yell at your kid brother" he said grinning like an idiot.
"Fine what do you want to talk about" I said through my teeth, "and don't call me 'sis' my names Mary"
"Whatever you say Mary" he said sarcastically.
"Don't you have better things to do like worry about taking your goat or something?" I muttered back.
"Why would I be worried 'bout that, it's a multiple choice quiz" he said before adding "with no wrong answers!"
"A multiple choice quiz with no wrong answers that will determine your future." I replied smirking before saying " maybe you'll get something you could be good at like trash burner. Bet you won't have to have three years training though."
"Hey shut up!" he said the adding on "You aren't even a qualified Engineer!"
Before I could reply I was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat
"Mr. Cooper shouldn't you be getting to class, and Ms. Cooper don't you have work to do?" said a tall thin boy about twenty three. He had light brown hair and brown eyes. His name was Jeff Young, he was the teachers assistant for this class, though one day he would just be the teacher. I nodded at him, and walked away scowling at my Bert (my brother).
I didn't face any more interruptions until I reached the the reactor level. When I got down there I was surprised to see Scott Moore the twenty one year old Junior Shift Manager for Vault 47 talking to the head Vault engineer Eric Williams.
"I'm telling you she is the best candidate" Said Scott.
"She hasn't even taken her final test though!" replied Mr. Williams.
"Well here she is why don't we ask her if she thinks she's prepared?" Said Scott
"Fine" said Mr. Williams. " Ms. Cooper, Mr. Moore here has informed me that he intends on sending a mission to the surface to find a reverse pulse cleaner, and he thinks you would be a good candidate to lead it." For a few seconds I stood there, speechless.
"You want me to go to the surface... alone." I said.
"Not alone you'll have a security escort." Said Scott he continued with "Mary I've checked the reports on you. You're good enough to find this part."
"Why don't you just send our best" I asked.
"They're needed to try to find a temporary solution." said Mr. Williams.
"So what do you say?" Said Scott. "You up for it Mary?"
"Sir I'm honored b-" I said before I was interrupted by.
"Excellent! You'll meet your team tomorrow." Said Scott happily. Mr. Williams and I just stood there for a bit after Mr. Scott left. I then walked over to a console overlooking the reactor and sat down.
"Go home" said Mr. Williams "I'll cover for your shift."
For the next week I would eat dinner with my whole family every night. I was still expected to go to work though which strikes me as kinda sorta bull crap. I mean considering the whole ya know... probable death thing. Still though I got to find out what Bert's job was, and it was... little league coach, so that was slightly disappointing.
So one week and about 150 release forms later it was time to leave. I sat silently in the Atrium. It was empty, though that was expected. No one likes talking to folks on death row. We can be quite depressing. It was at that moment that Christopher Young walked in it. He was the leader of my security escort. He was in his forties and had a fair amount of gray hair. He was wearing a security vest with a holstered pistol. He held his helmet loosely in his right helmet.
"Hey there Ms. Cooper" he said he sounded tired. "We leave in seven minutes."
"Hey there Officer Young" I replied grimly.
"You worried kid" he said sympathetically.
"I just can't help, but feel like I won't see this place again" I said. He nodded in response. I continued with " I just can't help, but feel that I'm unprepared. I mean you've all got pistols and shotguns why can't I have something. All I get to do is hold the fu- I mean the freaking Geiger counter."
"Let me ask you something Mary, Have you ever shot a gun." I shook my head and he continued "Have you ever even held a gun?" I shook my head again "That's why."
"Well it doesn't have to be a gun, but all they gave me was three canteens three Stim-packs and some Med-X." I replied.
"Well we're exploring an unknown land with minimal land and hardly any info... what could go wrong" said Officer Young grimly. Five minutes later we got up and walked through the door to the entrance. I saw a squad of five vault security officers with modified helmets that appeared to have a gas mask instead of the normal visor. They were all armed with a 10 millimeter pistol and baton. Two of them carried Combat Shotguns. It was then that Mr. Williams walked over to me.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked "It sounded like you were going to say you didn't want to when we first discussed this."
"No I want to go" I said. He probably would've retorted if the Overseer hadn't walked in.
He cleared his throat and began "Men... and woman... I'm not much for big speeches, but I'd like you to know we're all pulling for you back here. You are are best hope for survival. You go forth now not just for you, me or any others who live in Vault 47, but instead for your children and your children's children. You will no doubt see horrific things out there, but know that through it all you must have courage. You are our future, so go out there and give 'em hell." with that he left for a small room to the left with a window overlooking the exit.
I was handed a gas mask, one of those old models with the elephant-ish tube at the front. Officer Young walked over to a small control panel with a switch as well as several other buttons on it. I put the gas mask on. It's lenses were made of the polarized glass. The people in the small room to the left wore goggles.
Officer young pulled the lever. A loud screech could be heard as a large arm like thing came down. It attached itself to the back of the door to pull it onto a rail that then pulled it fully open directly to the outside. It was dark out. Not to mention very cloudy. I felt a steady tapping on the top of my head. When I looked the lenses of my gas mask were blurred by water droplets. The others kept walking, either they already knew about this or couldn't feel it through there helmets. With this thought I began to follow them.