Shouldering the Clouds
by
The Agent X
A/N: This was just a little idea I had.
Three people. That's all you needed to become a Pioneer.
Well, okay it took a little bit more than that. The Above was dangerous, as Marcella often heard. All those who volunteered underwent a month of weapons and survival training courtesy of the Guard and Ivan Harper. Four weeks to learn how to survive radiation, bombs, starvation, crazed lunatics, slavery, cannibalism, monsters… all the numerous horrors left behind by humankind.
It wasn't that much time, considering.
And Marcella didn't consider it. She hadn't thought about the lack of proper preparation, or the danger, or the pain of being away from home. No, she had taken one look at her G.O.A.T result, left the examiner sitting at his table, and headed straight to the overseer's office to place her name on the scratched, yellowing clipboard laying unattended by the assistant's desk.
Because in Vault 262 there was only one way to change your fate. Everything you did was for the vault. You could labour for the rest of your life in the role assigned to you upon graduation from the academy, or—
Or…
For most, it wasn't actually an option. What kind of person would give up their life, their family, their future, just to breathe the poisoned air outside? Talk of the Above wasn't uncommon. All vault children grew up hearing about the suffering they were shielded from. Everyone had a vague understanding of just how bad it was. It made for great stories, and everyone loved stories.
But it was also a lesson. And a lesson most heeded. Very, very few ever joined the Pioneer Programme. And those who did join…
She glanced down at the paper in front of her. Her name was still glistening with fresh ink. It was an gash of black on an otherwise white page.
The assistant stopped his typing. He blinked up at her through rounded frames. "Did you…?"
His eyes travelled to the clipboard and back. "Are you sure? Once you leave this room the decision is permanent."
She still held her exam result in her hand. It was crumpled slightly from her grip. She placed it down and slid it across the desk.
"I'm sure," she said.
He eyed her for a minute longer before sitting back and sighing. "I'll inform your recruitment supervisor of the change. We leave it up to you to inform your family."
He took the document. Marcella watched as her other future disappeared out of sight.
"You're the first of this batch of evaluations to come through. Once the other sectors are finished you'll get information on training. Teams will be assigned afterward."
"What if no one else volunteers?"
"Then you'll wait. There needs to be at least three people before a team is formed."
Three people.
"Thanks." She turned to leave. Before she crossed the threshold, the man spoke out.
"We thank you for your service to the Vault."
Marcella glanced back, nodded, and stepped out of the room. She paused for a moment on the other side and took a deep breath. There was no going back now.
We thank you for your service to the Vault.
In Vault 262, everything you did was for the vault. You worked in peace in your assigned spot or you joined the Pioneers. All for the vault.
She walked, trying to control her expression. Trying to ignore the strange shivers racing up and down her back. She felt giddy and nervous, like a child who'd lied for a second helping of desert. Like someone who'd done something they shouldn't have, and gotten away with it.
She couldn't help the surprised chuckle that escaped her mouth.
We thank you for your service to the Vault.
He didn't know. He hadn't realised. No one knew.
She chuckled harder.
She wasn't doing this for the vault.
She was doing this for herself.
A/N: We'll see where it goes.