EVERYTHING BURNS
A Fallout 3 Fanfic by Sonic's Shadow
A quick word from the author:
Greetings everyone, and thank you for clicking on my wonderful story. For some reason, you're still reading, and for just that I'm grateful. This isn't my first Fan-fiction, and I hope to God that it's not my last, but I'm still getting used to this whole internet-story thing. So while I do have plenty of experience as a writer–and, for that matter, a Fallout player–just know that I'm still getting the hang of this style of writing.
Having said that, constructive criticism is more than welcome. In the few stories I have begun to post on this site, I very rarely receive any reviews at all. So as always, feel free to, as the kids say, "R&R."
This story does not follow the direct storyline of the actual game, Fallout 3, but do know that it has certain elements72 from that plot before we get into the main storyline.
IMPORTANT NOTE: While the description you read on the previous page is entirely true, do know that a large portion of Marcus' story starts off as that of any other wanderer of the Wastes; he escapes his vault, makes friends, fights for survival, travels the city, blah blah blah… I guess what I'm trying to say is that while our story IS about the return of the Chinese army, the first several chapters will not necessarily be based around that concept.
But now I'm rambling. On a final (mandatory) note, the reasons for this story's rating (M) are as follows:
Drugs
Alcohol
Intense Language
Possible Sexual Content
Extreme Violence
In short, everything Fallout. This story is NOT recommended for young audiences.
Now, without further ado, let's begin…
FOREWORD/CHAPTER 1: THE COLD, HARD TRUTH
They say everything burns.
Everything.
Wood, metal, diamonds, whatever. Even water can "burn," but that's a whole different story. But what do they mean by 'everything?' I think this saying has more to it than just inanimate objects. Lives can burn, countries can burn, cities can burn. And when I say cities, I don't mean those metal things with tall buildings and noisy cars. I'm talking about the lifestyle, the sense of culture that binds a city together, makes its people one. The vaults were cities of sorts. Cities which we were forced into, but cities nonetheless. Culture, society. A society encased in cold steel. We should have known it would burn, to.
And what happens when you start a fire in a closed space? It burns itself out.
But hell, you know what they say:
The vaults were never meant to save anyone.
Everything burns.
Marcus learned that the hard way, when a mysterious, deadly infection wiped out his entire vault. Vault 72, where no one can enter, and anyone can leave… but nobody wants to. They were too afraid, and it was that very fear that brought their demise.
In his short Vault 72 life, Marcus learned a set of life's rules, some of which were as follows:
Everything burns.
Nobody is all good.
Nobody is all evil.
Everyone has a breaking point.
Anyone will do anything, given the proper incentive.
Nothing is perfect.
Everything is balanced.
Everyone is unique.
Nothing is immortal.
No ship is unsinkable.
No problem is unsolvable.
No battle is un-winnable.
Life is unfair.
And war… well, you know the rest.
War never changes.
For some reason, birth is considered to be the beginning of your life. Of course, this is not technically true, as life obviously begins with conception, nine months earlier. But it's how humans have always worked, and it's probably how they always will work. Why is birth thought to be the beginning of life? Because it's the first time you can truly feel for yourself. A flash of light, and suddenly the pieces come together, and all your questions begin to be answered.
Or do they?
Marcus was born twice. Once, when he came forth from his mother's womb, and again, when he came forth from the vault, into the real world. Will he be born a third time? Will he be released into some grand scheme, even bigger than the outside world? Only time will tell. Either way, our story begins with the former 'birth.'
And a flash of light.
"Rachel, we've done it! We've given birth to a boy! A beautiful baby boy!"
"Oh, David, this is… this is wonderful!…"
The baby blinked his eyes opened, adjusting to the sudden change in scenery as he became accustomed to his new surrounded. What was this place?
The others in the room, aside from his mother, were staring at him intently, waiting. Those first seconds just might determine the rest of his life…
...And he began to cry. The baby began bawling, and the doctors and nurses let out a sigh of relief.
"He's breathing fine, David. You and your wife have given birth to a very healthy child."
David breathed happily and turned back to his new son. "Hi, there! I'm your daddy. Daddy. Oh, look at you!"
Of course, the infant had no idea what his father was saying. However, he was staring at David with an incredibly intelligent gaze…
"...It's a big world out there, son, with lots of new people. I wonder what kind of person you're going to be…"