Quinn never wondered what the end of one life's chapters would look like as she looked back toward her childhood friend, Amata, for the final time. The utter trepidation from her motionless peer mixed with quiet intrigue that made her hesitate to continue. The foreboding cog-like door screeched as it closed, the final remnants of her youth shut behind tons of steel and concrete before her eyes. The gush of air hissing as it slid into place set her back along with the disorienting ringing in her ears that reverberated to her bones.
The warning klaxons dissipated, the last dying breath of her childhood falling to the wayside before her eyes. She slipped her cap on and made her way to the glowing embers of daylight ahead of her. The warmth creeping from the slots in the door made her arms prickle with exhilaration as she reached the knob. She didn't know what she was going to find beyond the rickety shield, but she knew what she was looking for that drove her from her home.
She held her breath and stepped into the world, a foreigner in a land that time seemed to freeze. It was humid, and breezy, the sunlight bathed her in blinding light as her eyes slowly adjusted to the natural illumination. She took several steps and peered over the matchstick houses that sprawled before her. The world smelled so different compared to the cold tomb that was the vault. It was sterile, cold, unfeeling, but in the openness of the landscape, she could feel life under the ashen piles that marked a once thriving suburb.
Her Pip-Boy chirped and a wave of static flew through the air. She dialed it back and looked around cautiously as she walked the abandoned streets. The smell of smoke lingered heavily in the air and the soft jingle of chains wafted carelessly in the noonday sun. She heard the clopping of hooves on the concrete before her. Bringing her hand up to shield her eyes, she saw two people armed and looking at her most curiously. The large pack animal between them stared at her with its four large eyes.
Quinn smiled weakly and approached the people with hidden apprehension. The greeted her warmly and sized her up. She could tell that they were curious about her as well and saw her as new to the Wasteland as a newborn straight from the womb.
"I'm looking for my father. Have you seen him?" she questioned softly.
The two men looked at each other, questioning the other with looks and then stating that they had not.
"You should try, Megaton. It's just over the hill and to the right. They might know about him," one of them stated.
"Thank you, then," she replied and continued walking.
"If you need anything, just let one of the caravan drivers know. They might be able to set you up with some items. Or if you see me again, I can set you up as well," the man said with a warm smile.
"I'll do that, thank you, again," Quinn uttered with a smirk.
The man tipped his hat to her and continued walking in the opposite direction. Quinn looked toward the horizon and the large structure that barely peeked over the hill ahead. The subtle creek of steel drove her closer to an answer and she hoped that she wouldn't have to travel too far into the wasteland to find her father; she just wanted to know why he'd left her without a word and left her holding the bag with the Overseer.
No matter how curious she'd been about the outside world, this brown and dusty place wasn't what she'd pictured in her imagination. Even as she approached the settlement, her breath bated as she pressed the door open and slid through, she felt that the task at hand was going to end far before it began and wherever her father was, she hoped that he was alright.