Chapter 1: Home of Tomorrow, Yesterday!
The day where the world was destroyed by War and radiation has been typically undocumented, people knew of that day in the Commonwealth, but no one really knew how fast it went, how one moment it was a calm Saturday morning and the next you were either dead, in the hands of Vault-Tec or underneath the ground in a home shifted bunker. How barely anyone knew if this was a drill or not until they were nothing more than Earth and soot. The way humans fought can be cruel. That would never change.
The day she lost her family because of the War she wouldn't forget: the day was a chilled Saturday in October. A normal, lazy weekend day where kids were home, parents were relaxing on the couch and Mister Handies was doing yard work. The houses on the suburban road were quiet during these days, somewhere out already to Concord or in the yard to enjoy the mild weather.
The aura of the suburban cul de sac so much more relaxed during weekends, without school or the workload, the domestic took this time to enjoy themselves, and most importantly to the child, her bed. She had been awake for some time, lazily posed as the world slowly went by without her, eyes shut as she stayed motionless. Her arm looped around her doll, though she had many, only one was allowed in her bed. A stuffed toy named Booboo, she has had the toy since infancy: Her face stuffed into the stomach of the thing. Her face was towards the wall, forgetting all about the world outside.
The rays of sun that filtered through was tinted a cream pink by her lace drapes, bringing light to her brightly aesthetic bedroom. Saturdays were where she could laze around until her friend was ready to play, awaiting her newest comic edition or planning out her newest Halloween costume. She might have stayed in bed much longer than she was allowed, but she was stirred awake by her Uncle and Aunt's Mister Handy robot.
She winced as her door creaked open, and the soft noise of the floating robot inched closer, he always made a whirring, hoovering sound. He had a booming voice and would not take a no for an answer- ever.
"Good morning, Young Ma'am! Your Sugar Bombs are awaiting you on the table!" The robotic happily chirped, exiting her room as soon as he came. She huffs, rolling onto her side, lifting herself by her elbows. She knew if she stayed in bed much too long, Codsworth would wake her much louder the next time he entered to check on her process of waking up.
Gathering all the energy she could, she rose from the soft mattress, crawling off the side of the bed onto the carpeted floor below her. Once out of her perch, she walked towards her dresser to pick her attire for that day. She felt a bit sleepy, but the ideas of Sugar Bombs and maybe sneaking a Nuka Cola was exciting enough to get her through getting ready.
Opening the double doors of her dresser, she slides the hangers of dresses one by one- all of which were stained, a bit ripped, or sun bleached from outdoor play. She chose the one with a mustard stain and a rip on the skirt where she had jumped over a gate: A casual black gingham jumper dress, with a long sleeve white button blouse. She was humming to herself, fastening one of her buttons on the jumper strap.
This dress was allowed to be ruined, unlike the second door of her storage, full of formal attire and fluffy socks that scratched her ankles. She didn't enjoy wearing those, avoiding them at all cost. Yet, Aunt Nora had been talking up this evening for a week, and Evangeline knew she would suffer a tight hairstyle and uncomfortable dress in the very near future- of that evening.
Uncle Nate was having a speech at the Veterans Hall, somewhere in Cambridge. Aunt Nora had gone to the clothing shop and spent all afternoon finding a dress to best go with Uncle Nate's suit. She knew she would have to brush her hair, attend without her sweater and being on her very best behavior. The idea of being stared at by all those people because she was Uncle Nate's niece, related to the War Hero, and being judged for every step she made was nerve-racking.
She hoped Booboo could come, Aunt and Uncle never made her feel bad about Booboo. Her doctor called him a comfort item- so Uncle Nate was nice about bringing him everywhere now. She grabbed her final piece of attire, a large, oversized knitted sweater. She slid it over her dress, hurrying out of her room to find Nora and Nate to share breakfast.
As she ran through the hallway, the bathroom door was wide opened, allowing the girl to see her caregivers in front of the bathroom sink, simply discussing things and preparing for the day. She slowed, wondering if they would join her in breakfast. Sometimes during the busier days, she would have breakfast first and then run out to the bus- it wasn't uncommon, but weekends were their day to spend with each other.
Nate was fidgeting over his appearance, trying to part his hair correctly- do everything correctly. He was so worried of that night, she felt the anxiety radiating off of him. Aunt Nora attempted to soothe his nerves, and Eva knew the two weren't ready to eat yet. She roamed from the living room to the kitchen, she slid into the kitchen chair as Codsworth poured the milk and cereal for her.
Codsworth was her best friend, other the Louis, Rosa's son. It was mostly her, Codsworth and Shaun in the house, she got very close with the robotic butler. Nora had begun her lawyering career after Nate had been drafted, and now that Shaun was born was starting again.
Uncle Nate was at home a lot, he was still job hunting, yet he was a decorated war hero- the government checks came and helped out the bills as Nora was finding cases. The house dynamic had found a comfortable balance.
"Miss Evangeline, after breakfast, I would recommend enjoying the nice weather! A crisp day it is." Codsworth then left from the table, beginning on the coffee and to make a more home-style breakfast for the adults, as Nate utterly hated Sugar Bombs.
Evangeline loved them- it was her favorite breakfast! After shoveling the contents of the bowl in her mouth, she crawled off from the chair and glanced out the den's window pane- perfect Fall day, maybe before going out to the Veterans Hall she could run off with Louis for a few hours. She would sneak on her Mary Janes and rush out- she just had to be back before five
She had her own bedroom, Shaun had his own nursery, and her Aunt and Uncle had their own rooms. So sneaking out would be easy if she was nice and quiet like in the spy movies she loved so much. She loved having her own room here.
When Evangeline just wanted to be alone, she could isolate herself in her room. She liked to simply sit in her bed, reading graphic novels, maybe even sneak a crank radio into her room and listen to the Silver Shroud station for a little while- Aunt Nora thought it was too violent for her, but Uncle Nate saw no problem.
Uncle Nate was always fun, he let her read his comic books, and she even got to watch Television shows Aunt Nora didn't think she should be watching at her age. Uncle Nate always treated her so much bigger than others did. He treated her like she could make her own choices, she really liked that. She placed her bowl into the sink, as Codsworth imminently trying to clean it, drying it inhumanly fast and putting it away.
She didn't know why Aunt Nora didn't want a Mister Handy sooner, she liked not having to clean the dishes anymore. She had more time to play! She hurried down the hallway, she needed to brush her teeth, wash her face, and fix her hair before she was allowed to go play outside by mister Codsworth.
It was fairly easy to slip past the adults, but Codsworth would watch her like a hawk, and if she tried to escape without finishing her morning rituals, he would find her.
Evangeline peaked into the bathroom doorway, the sight of Nora's hand onto Nate's shoulder caught her eyes.
"You're going to knock them dead at the Veterans Hall tonight, Hon."
"You think?" He exhaled, his hands onto the basin of the sink, staring at the mirror intensely, he kept trying to fix his hair- tracing his fingers over his roughly textured face. "My speech, it's too dark, too bleak."
Nora wrapped her arms around his chest, she continued to speak soft words of praise and encouragement, but Evangeline lost interest when she realized she couldn't do what she wanted in the bathroom. Her Uncle has been so worried about his speech, but she didn't understand why - it sounded like every other boring speech they made at school or events she had to wear itchy petticoats for.
So, now disappointed she couldn't sneak out easily, she chose to go play with her cousin. It was hard to really play or talk to a baby less than a year, he was heavy for her to carry and he drooled a lot. He couldn't talk and he still didn't know how to walk. She wandered her way into the nursery, the room was still and calm. She knew just what the two would do today- a tea party!
He was fast asleep, wrapped snugly in the blanket Aunt Nora first brought him home in. She stood right against the treated wood of the bars, she reached a hand in and tickled his stomach just as she saw her caregivers do.
This awoke him, enlightening an angry rage most infants possess when being stirred awake before he wanted to be. She didn't step back, she was used to him crying like that- she began to tickle and pet him, singing to him until she grew confident enough to pull down the bars just like she saw her Aunt and Uncle do, lifting the boy to her chest.
The baby had a soiled diaper, she felt it right as she picked him up. "Codsworth!" She exclaimed, placing the fussy baby back onto the crib mattress. He was kicking his legs in the swaddled blanket angrily at being put back down. Codsworth came hearing the baby so upset.
"Sounds like someone made a stinky!" He declares, using his grabber attachments to delicately undo his swaddle and change his soiled diaper. She watched as Codsworth seemed to know just how to soothe and care for the baby.
When the baby was finally changed and fed a morning bottle since he was still being so fussy, Codsworth gently placed the child back into the crib. The baby grumbles and groans, unhappy with his situation.
"Shaunny… Shaunny." She said in that high pitch voice she hears the grownups use, tickling him as he seemed to become more grumpy than angry. He wanted to be held, and she was just the person to do it. She lifts the infant back against her chest, hefting him off towards her bedroom. That was one perk to having her Uncle and Aunt so busy- she could sneak a bit of playtime with Shaun!
Codsworth drifted towards the kitchen as he was done with his duties, he couldn't calm a baby who wanted to be held- he was a needy baby sometimes. He liked being held and comforted, Aunt Nora had to stop working on cases just to coddle the boy. But Shaun wasn't picky on who held him, enjoying the soft bouncing of Evangeline attempting to carry him.
She luckily had kept the bedroom door opened from rushing out for breakfast. She had to use both hands to take the baby to her bedroom without suspicion.
She entered the room quietly, shutting the door with her foot as Aunt Nora didn't like her holding the baby without adult supervision. She couldn't place the reason- why she was so good! She never ever dropped the baby.
She laid him into the floor, right beside her short table- the table legs were so tiny she could sit on her knees and be comfortable. She then grabbed her porcelain tea set Aunt Nora had bought her. Aunt Nora told her since she was eight now, a big girl, she could handle glass toys- she had to be really careful. She couldn't even play tea party with her best friend Louis, because he was too rough- Aunt Nora claimed because he was a boy.
Shaun couldn't be rough to her toys like Louis could, so she laid the little teacup and saucer atop his abdomen tightly wrapped up in the little blankety.
Eva happily positioned herself across from her baby cousin. "How is the tea?" She did a mockup British voice, similar to Codsworth. She sipped the pretend tea loudly, the wrapped up infant was enjoying the ceiling of her pink room. He was like a doll, that sometimes cried. No matter where she put him, he would stay- sometimes that was bad, like the time she left him in the baby doll crib she had and she forgot where she put him.
Shaun was naive to whatever game Evangeline was putting him through. His little fist was halfway into his mouth, the other reaching to the ceiling.
The tea party wasn't as good as when Codsworth helped her, who would make her peanut butter jelly sandwiches cut up in 'tea squares' as he called them and made them real tea- she put half honey, half tea, with a teaspoon of sugar. It was their secret, Aunt Nora didn't very much like her having real tea parties after she spilled some on her good dress.
Though, her little formal gathering was cut short by the door sliding open, displaying Nora on the other side, Eva almost went stiff being caught, upon the sight of his mother, the infant screamed in delight, wiggling to get close to her- with her single right hand firmly on her hip, she walked towards her son laid in the floor.
Aunt Nora came in, moved the cup and saucer onto the surface, lifting the boy from the carpet as he calms almost instantly. He loved being held, Nora couldn't deny how she loved how easy she could soothe her son, how just holding him would make him feel so much better.
"Eva. He's just a baby, he can't do tea parties or play with you and your friends yet. Just give it a few years, and once he can walk, you can go nuts." She smiled, she never seemed truly upset at her for wanting to play with Shaun- but she just thought he was too young for all the fun she has planned for them both, or how she described it to the child.
After a few moments of coddling the infant as she stood, Nora began towards the door, with the older child quickly following her. She made the right towards the nursery and walked to the rocking chair, lowering herself onto it.
Aunt Nora rocking the boy slowly as he coos and speaks his own little gibberish language. She watched her cousin, yawning and almost falling back to sleep, even if he just woke up before she heard the front door opening and someone speaking, it was so muffled she could hardly hear it. She got excited, hoping Louis had come to ask her to play.
She ran past Codsworth and stood beside Uncle Nate, ready to run past him to go out with Louis. Though, as she hurried down the hallway and to the front door she found a man standing there with a fedora and beige trench coat.
She stood beside Uncle Nate's leg, taking a fistful of his sweatpants, earning a pat on the head from her relative as he spoke to the man on their porch. The man before her did a big show to welcome her, "What a beautiful daughter you have! All the more reason for you to sign up for Vault-Tec!"
The man was loud and Uncle Nate had that look of irritation he always seemed to have when dealing with door-to-door representatives; sometimes they would come to the doors of the better suburban community. She wanted to watch the interaction, as she had nothing else really going on.
"But there's room for my entire family right?" He gestures towards the girl against his leg, as the Vault-Tec Rep smiled down at the child before him.
"Of course! Of course! Minus your robot, of course, everyone is included." He had a sheepish grin, she frowned looking up at her uncle, taking his larger palm with both hands and gently tugging to get his attention.
"We can't leave Mister Codsworth." She tried to tell him, but Uncle Nate simply waved her off, removing his hand from her grip and patting her head. He had a light smile staring down at her.
"How about you go get ready, Sweet Pea." His voice was gentle but dismissive. She knew she would get nowhere with him like this. So she grumbled but walked off to get prepared for the day.
"Now we just need your family's individual S.P.E.C.I. ."
She grabbed the little yellow stool from under the sink, climbing up beginning to wash her face. She soaked a wash rag with some hand soap and begun to scrub her face. After her face was covered in warm water and suds, she lowered her face to splash over her expression.
She was humming Caption Cosmos theme as she squeezed some dentifrice on her toothbrush and begun to brush her teeth. After rinsing and spitting out the paste, she then lifted her head, going to grab the hair comb to detangle before she heard the slam of the door.
The heavy steps down the hallway were the only answer she needed for an unasked question- Uncle Nate was done talking to the weird man at the door. She was quick to forget finishing her hygienic morning customs to take a look outside of the bathroom, seeing Uncle Nate stroll within the nursery. With a grin, she entered the nursery behind him.
"Shaun is up early." The man leans his head towards Nora, who left a soft kiss on his jawline before she returned her eyes to the now calmed baby, who was lying against her chest. Nora cocked an eyebrow with that playful smirk she had when Evangeline tried to say Codsworth did something she did.
"Well, someone thought seven in the morning was the best time for a tea party." Nora gave a smile towards Evangeline, gesturing by nodding towards her. Nate glanced over, shook his head slightly and allowed a chuckle to slip from his lips.
"Of course." He would only laugh at her waking the baby up so early, he would always be so calm towards her about how she treated Shaun. Even when Aunt Nora would be so upset. Like the time when he was still so little she put him in her baby stroller and tried to take him to school- or when she tried to get him to sleep with her in her bed. So many countless times she was told she wasn't treating him correctly.
Uncle Nate stepped away from Aunt Nora to allow her to stand. She rose from the cushioned rocker with a quiet sigh, she moved her hips side to side to stretch a bit, before walking back to the nursery's crib. She gently laid the now calmed baby back upon the mattress, grabbing the side of the crib's bars and pulled upward locking them in place.
She gave a dreamy sigh, Aunt Nora would say how much she had waited for the picket fence and family life she had now; she would have a dreamy look about her when she was caring for the children or spending time with her husband- she really did love her situation.
"Listen, after breakfast, I was thinking of going to the park. Weather should hold up," Nora suggests, turning to Nate. She placed her hands on the crib's side, though, she knew she would definitely go to the park- just shooting out the suggestion near Evangeline would get her wild.
"I wanna go! Can Louis come?" Evangeline butted in, as Nora knew she would, she patted the jet black hair of the child, staring up at the husband with the grin she always had when she knew she won. Unlike Nora, Nate loved to stay at home, watch Baseball and relax on his weekends, but she loved to spend those weekends outside, actually playing Baseball or enjoying the park.
He might say no to Nora, but he was wrapped around Evangeline's finger. It was a two-edged sword, but she had learned long ago how to use it to her liking. He didn't seem upset by any means, he might not like going, but he knew he would get a big burger and fries before the day was over if they all headed out.
"Sure, sounds like a fun time- I'll call Rosa after breakfast." He waved his left hand in a offhandly manner, Evangeline got so excited she nearly screamed- but knew better than to do that in the same room with Shaun after last time. She had grabbed Uncle Nate's hand, going to pull him to the kitchen so he could hurry and eat.
"Sir, Ma'am, I think you should see this!" Just as she was ready to tell Uncle Nate he needed to eat breakfast now- she was stopped as they all heard Codsworth shouting from the living room.
"Codsworth? What's wrong?" Aunt Nora spoke, her words full of concern. Uncle Nate was the first to step out to the living room. She didn't understand what was happening, so when Uncle Nate began to shout for Nora to come here now- she froze, staring at Aunt Nora who grabbed Shaun without the gentleness and dreamy look she usually had and begun out the door.
Aunt Nora ran down the hallway, making the girl shadow her by gripping her hand. It was too tight; she tried to take the vine like grip away from her wrist: But Aunt Nora refused to let her go, forcing her to follow her into the living room. The television was telling them something with flashes, attacks, she didn't understand most of the words used. The grip loosened in all of Aunt Nora's shock as she held Shaun tighter with both hands.
"Oh my god.." Aunt Nora was looking at Uncle Nate, quiet, their faces distorted in panic. The man on the screen covered his face with his hands, the emotions, the feel of the room had changed so quickly Evangeline didn't know how to feel. Codsworth then grabbed the child's blue boots.
"I would suggest putting on some shoes, young Ma'am." The robotic nanny laid the pair before her, as he went towards the adults, drifting among them- waiting to hear what to do- should he pack? Should he take the children towards the vault? He was programmed to do what they told him to do.
She was slow to obey, starting to slide her foot into her dirtied blue boots. They were coated in dried mud at the bottom and time-worn from the time she has spent with them, roughhousing her favorite pair of shoes.
After she had them on, it was barely a moment later did the sirens activate.
The alarm rang, brash and loud. They were louder than the automated drill, and she could already hear the screaming of neighbors outside. She instinctively covered her ears. She was accustomed to drills, she practiced at school and with her family all the time, they were calm, professional, and felt so safe.
But the moment the horn went off, it seems at that moment everything went into chaos. The windows displayed so many people running towards the forest, the door swung open as Nora ran out with Shaun, she became frozen in place, mind going blank- that was just what Evangeline did in panic, she froze up.
Uncle Nate was the one who suddenly snatched her, hiking her up on his chest as he sped through the neighborhood. Evangeline almost dropped her doll in utter shock, gripping against him as he raced past the people and houses. She looked past his shoulder, she saw all her neighbors so afraid, hugging each other, some crying.
Her eyes search for Louis, would he go to the vault too? The road towards the forest was bumpy. She could only see a blur of her neighbors she had grown up with and the shouting of others. When Uncle Nate stopped, she felt she would fall over even in his arms by the force of his feet stopping.
Uncle was the one to demand access in the vault, shouting that they were on the list. The soldier glanced over the checklist. Evangeline saw her neighbors, everyone looked so scared, so heartbroken. She saw Rosa, eyes lightening up as she now thought her and her son would go within the vault with her.
But there Louis stood with Rosa, sobbing into the skirt of his mother, as she rubs her hands nervously. She tried to reach out, but the two acted as if they couldn't see her.
"Infant, Child, Adult Female… Go on in." He stepped aside, the two adults run past the gate. She pressed her forehead into the nape of his neck, there were so much shouting and disorder, she knew those sirens meant something was wrong, very wrong. They stood on the center of the circle, the ground was beginning to lower.
"Is Shaun okay?" Nate raced to his wife, holding the girl to his chest so tight her back hurt, as he looks over the baby.
"He's fine, we're going to be fine, we're safe," Nora spoke breathless, looking over the land of all of the helpless people. The baby's eyes were caught by him, looking up at his father as Nate sighs quietly. "Oh thank god.."
As soon as those words left his lips, the ground began to shake as a bright, fiery hot heat filled the air. Looking back, the two were met with the blast, with a mushroom cloud beginning to form high in the sky. It was definitely bigger than Evangeline's thumb. Uncle Nate grabbed her head, turning from the blast just as Nora had to Shaun.
The platform slowly begun to go deeper into the ground, the force of the atomic bomb finally hit them, resulting in some of the new Vault Dwellers and people to fall, the rumbling making even Uncle Nate almost fall. She gripped against the white shirt she was pressed to, and all she could think of was how Codsworth was all alone.
The lid of the elevator finally shut, making everything black. All she could hear was her breathing and the heavy pants of those around her. It was so dark, she hated the dark. "Eva, you okay?" Uncle Nate had finally addressed her, she had been so quiet the whole time, he worried she was going into a panic attack she would get sometimes.
"People.. People were still out there.." She barely spoke above a whisper.
"Don't think about it." Uncle shushed her, tangling his hand in her messy black bob, as Aunt Nora grabbed for Nate's arm.
"Oh god, just a minute later.."
She simply hugged him tighter, Nate stood up slowly, realizing they were safe from the nuclear blasts from outside. The platform continued down at a much faster pace, those around them were panting, afraid and trying to stay calm.
"We did it, we made it… We're okay…" Nora kept breathlessly speaking, cradling the child in her arms as she looks back to Nate and Nora. "We're all safe…" They then stood close to one another, Nate allowed Evangeline to stand on her own, holding her hand now as the platform reached the ground.
The cage portion of the wall begun to lift itself with a loud whirring, showcasing a Vault-Tec guard and another man in a simple blue suit. Eva felt another wave of dread as she looked at the tall man with the beard, he held a clipboard and spoke like he was reading off a script.
"Everyone! Please step off the elevator, and proceed up the stairs in an orderly fashion." He spoke loudly, as the guard walked towards the crowd, escorting them off the platform and towards the steps. Their neighbors were still trembling, in shock as they were guided forward. The guard wouldn't speak, he did not answer a single question, nor did he even make eye contact.
"We'll get everyone situated in your new home! Vault 111. A better future…" His lingering voice softened and fades as they walk up the metal stairs, towards the yellow gate opening. She didn't like this, she wanted to go home.
Eva held onto her Uncle's warm hand as the two were hustled up the stairs, the first thing she noticed was how cold this Vault was. Her bare legs felt freezing, as she huddled to the warmth of her Uncle.
'Vault-Tec Is Here For You…' The robotic voice droned on from some sort of speaker, repeatedly as they continue on the stairs. Aunt Nora was behind some of the other neighbors as for how they were shoveled in the steps, making Eva not able to see her. Uncle Nate held onto her hand tighter, continuing further.
A man near the yellow bars walkthrough checked off a clipboard as the new Vault Dwellers marched forward. He mumbles, smacking his lips jadedly.
"Adult Male, Child... Infant, Adult Female.." He mumbles under his breath, Eva was staring over the place. It was full of metal walls, painted blue and the Vault-Tec workers seemed so nice and calm, despite all of the chaos and fear in the room. The Vault-Tec logo was proudly embedded on different things in the vault, everything was fresh and clean- just like in the Television ads for the vaults.
Nate was handed a Vault Suit before the woman employee smiled at the young girl, who looked away at the eye contact. Uncle Nate squeezed her hand for comfort, so she leaned more against him, holding her doll tight.
"We also have Vault Suits for children, completely unisex, fashionable and comfortable." She handed the much smaller version of the suit to her. But Uncle Nate took it, walking down the hallway with the doctor as instructed by the woman.
"Alright, you four, follow me." The doctor smiled so widely, looking over the little family as he guided them down the hallway. The scientist was nice too, he explained everything calmly as Nora asked so many questions.
The next room was nothing but rows of just.. Metal shells. There was a man in this room also, who checked them off the list. Why were they checked off so many lists? Evangeline looked to Uncle Nate, wanting him to explain what this room was- yet, he appeared just as puzzled as her to this. The doctor simply smiled at the family's utter confusion.
"Just step in here and put your vault suit on, into the chamber whenever you are ready." He gestures towards the many cushioned metal husks that littered this room, Eva glanced over them all, Nate handed Evangeline her outfit, making her feel more insecure for having to change here before going in. Before she could voice her concerns, Shaun must had some complaints as well, as he began to sob loudly.
"Awe, who is my little guy? Daddy is not going far." Nate stepped closer, reaching his hands out as Shaun's tiny fists reach out for him, crying harder.
"There he is, see?" Nora laughs faintly, handing the baby over to Nate and then looking to Eva, who looked like a deer in the headlights. Nate swayed the baby gently side to side, babbling to the infant until he calmed down.
Nora kneels in front of her niece, "Let's get into your suit so we can start our new life, alright?" She helped the younger get dressed in the suit, putting all of her clothes in the bag as the rest were, but Eva, who kept her sweater. The scientist relented to her weak stare, Nora kissed her head. "I'm not going far either, I'll be right beside you. Look, Uncle Nate is gonna be able to see you the whole time." Her hands gestures towards the pod right in front of the one she was being placed in. Evangeline frowned, staring towards Uncle Nate who was still enjoying the laughing baby.
The decompressing pods reserved for them would allow Nate and Nora to look straight at each other, as Uncle Nate could see her from his. She wished she could see Aunt Nora, she wanted to voice her fear, her wanting to see Codsworth- but Aunt Nora kept a firm hand on her back, guiding her to the pod.
The doctors were pushy, nearly shoving them inside the little spaces, but Uncle Nate was ignoring them. Walking past one of the doctors and towards Nora and Evangeline.
Uncle Nate came forward, she looked up at him with the expression of fear and dread, but he leans down, planting a soft kiss to her forehead. She extends her hand towards the bundled baby, allowing him to hold her finger for only a moment before a scientist began to move Nate towards the pod.
Eva was ushered into the pod by another scientist, she sat down on the cushioned seat as the scientist sealed the door. She got nervous, it felt wrong. Uncle Nate's eyes were connected to Nora's, a little wave as the two put their hands on the glass as a way to connect as some sort of fog took over their pods.
The scientist came to her chamber, keeping such a kind smile adults had when they thought children were pitiful.
"The pod will decontaminate and depressurise you before we head deeper into the Vault. You're going to start a new life, cheer up." And with that, the man in the white coat briskly walked away before she could say anything. Her fingernails dig into the fabric of her doll. She didn't understand a thing he just said, but it sounded painful.
She didn't like this- she leaned back, feeling her eyes filling with tears- she hoped Uncle Nate would pluck her up right then and hold her.
'Resident: Secured.'
She heard the door tighten, air locking as she began to heave, she was trapped and alone- she suddenly felt the walls of the metal ball closing in on her. The robotic voice was nulling, becoming noise in her ears. Cold, snow like air filled her pod, making her gasp. The sudden volume of freezing air filled the small space, making her tremble as she could feel her doll become rigid from ice underneath her palms.
Eva tried to scream, yet everything lulled into darkness before she could do much.
When she first stirred, she could hardly move her head- everything felt stiff, her breath came out hot and heavy as lead. She couldn't grasp what was happening first.
Gaining consciousness, she found herself feeling cold and her muscles rigid, she gasps as her lungs fill with icy breath- everything felt wrong. She could barely see from the frosted window of the pod- how was this decompressering?
"This. This is the one." The voice rang, almost making every part of her body become awake as she had the realization it had to be the vault scientists- it was time to get out.
She leaned closer, finding two figures in front of the pods. She hit her fist again the window, her breath shaky, puffs of air leaving her lips- she was shaking to her core- she wanted out.
The figures were blurry, she rubs her eyes trying to focus. She heard soft murmurs before some new figure came forward- this one looked almost like a monster- tight in a suit of what looked like rubber skin, pointed forward to the pod of her uncle. She begun to hit harder against the window, screaming, she was cold and scared.
The rubber monster was standing before her Uncle's chamber, as another figure, darkened and nearly out of her view standing on the sidelines as the monster had come forward.
The pod unsealed, lifting the door as Uncle Nate leaned forward, coughing as the cold air filled his lungs as Shaun screams, weeping loudly as the sudden contrast he awoke to. The rubber monster reached for the baby, she was saying something, but Nate kept shaking his head.
Uncle Nate's eyes caught his niece, banging on the window and crying. He stood, his legs shaky as the man she could hardly see held something towards him- she began to kick and smack against the door. He was still hacking, holding Shaun with one arm. The creature grabbed ahold of Uncle Nate's arm, seeing as he was struggling to move, guiding him from the room. He points towards the two pods where the rest of his family was contained.
The man holding the gun looked over the two pods, eyes widening when he saw the crying child inside. Would he let her out? He turned sideways, shouting to the thing- but she couldn't hear. Why wouldn't she hear?
She tried to stand, but everything fell back into darkness before she could even scream. Eva was trapped again her mind, in the dreams that seem to never end with questions on her mind. She just wanted her family.