Chapter I: Prologue

23 October, 2077

"You're gonna knock 'em dead at the Veteran's Hall tonight, hon," she spoke into my ear, as she'd crept up behind me. I was standing in front of the mirror, eyeing myself up, and somehow I hadn't even noticed her until she'd spoke.

I let a warm smile cross my lips as I asked back, "You think?"

"Absolutely," she told me, bursting with sass and positivity, "Now get ready and stop hogging the mirror."

"Right," I replied. In the mirror, I glanced at her. My beautiful wife. Often when I thought about it, I was unsure how I'd won her over all those years ago, but I wasn't complaining. She was perfect in every way.

I thought that maybe I'd shave, but it was only a little stubble on my chin, so it wasn't really necessary. I looked spiffy in my suit, which I'd ironed out to make look extra perfect. I needed it for the speech I was going to give tonight, which I'd spent countless hours practicing. This was going to be huge.

"Hon," she called out, snapping me back to focus, "I need to get ready, come on, get moving."

"Right, right, sorry," I meekly responded. I stepped back, letting my wife slide past me to the mirror in the bathroom. It was small, kind of quaint.

Out into the hallway I went, taking a look around. My home. I'd worked hard for it. Not that Nora hadn't, she was a bigshot lawyer, after all. But there was some sense of accomplishment I felt, having fought for my country and only recently fulfilling my military contract two years ago. Sometimes I'd forget that I wasn't still in the service.

"Sir, your coffee is ready!" a British voice called out to me, bringing me to focus again. I kept zoning out, for some reason.

"On my way, Codsworth," I answered back. Codsworth was our robot, a Mr. Handy. He helped out around the house a lot, as was his role. Down the hall I walked, out into our seemingly expansive living room, which was, in actuality, a living room, kitchen, and dining room lumped into one. It was efficient, although not the most pleasant sight to the eyes. Codsworth hovered next to the dining island, topped with genuine marble, as were the kitchen counters. Codsworth had left the TV on in the other corner of the room, in front of the couch, next to the stereo system, on which currently broadcasting was the local news station, the weatherman serving diligently.

Codsworth raised one of his robotic limbs, in which he held my coffee cup, out of which steamed sweet, vanilla coffee. I took the burden of carrying the mug from him, tipping my head in thanks. "And now for a brief look at the local weather. This weekend, unseasonably warm temperatures continue with a high of 56," I caught from the newscaster in the background.

"Sir," Codsworth inquired, "That Vault-Tec salesman came by again today and, I hope you don't mind, but I accepted his offer."

"Excellent," I replied, "That's absolutely fine, Codsworth, I'd been meaning to try to get in there, but he's kept showing up when I wasn't home. Thanks for taking care of that, bud."

"Of course, sir."

I cocked my head to glance out the window, which sat above our stereo. I could see people bustling about our neighborhood, and the evening sunset was beautifully shining in.

Then, in the back of my house, I heard crying. Shaun.

"Ah!" Codsworth exclaimed, lowering the newspaper down to the table, "Young Shaun must need some attending to." He zoomed out of the living area, down the hall and to the right, into Shaun's room. Shaun was our son. Only a year old, and it'd been a little tough. Nora could help keep the money flowing in, but I wasn't the best caretaker, and I hadn't been able to hold a job since I'd gotten home. Things were, admittedly, though, much easier with Codsworth around. He helped fill in for Nora while she was away, fighting legal battles with the same tenacity I'd once fought in war.

Out of the blue, I heard knocking on the front door, which I stood next to. I glanced out the window and I saw a Vault-Tec van parked out front. I opened the door, and before me stood a Vault-Tec representative, likely the same one who'd come by earlier today.

"Good evening!" the man cheerfully spoke, "My name is Ryan Smith, and I'm a representative for Vault-Tec. Are you Mister…" he trailed off, glancing down at the clipboard in his hand, then back up at me, "Mr. Thomas Thompson?"

"Yes, that's me," I confirmed, but just call me Tom."

"Oh, alright," he replied, "Well, Tom, I stopped by here earlier today and I had a chat with your Mr. Handy, I believe, about your spot in Vault 111. Is that –"

"Yes," I stopped him, "Codsworth told me. He said that he accepted the offer."

Ryan mumbled a little bit. "Yes, yes, he did. However, as you are the homeowner, I am legally required to ask you for your signature to close the deal," he spoke, flipping through a couple pages on his clipboard before gesturing it forwards to me, pen in hand. "If you'll just sign here," he pointed.

"Excellent, excellent. Now, since, uh, Codsworth, was it?" I nodded. "Yes, since, Codsworth went through all the paperwork, that'll be all. I just have to deliver this signature to the Vault and you'll be cleared for entry."

"Great," I replied.

"Uhh, yes," he shakily replied, "Thank you for your time."

"Of course," I told him, "Have a good rest of your evening."

Ryan tipped his hat and replied, "And to you," turning back to his van.

"What a weirdo," Nora said, startling me as I shut the door. "You ready to go?" she asked. Her makeup was done all fancy-like, and she'd donned a bright red, glittery dress.

I fumbled around for a minute, checking my pockets, making sure I had everything, and I was prepared to affirm when Codsworth came back through the hallway, his three eyes all locked onto Nora.

"Umm, mum, Shaun has been changed, but he absolutely refuses to calm down. I think he needs some of that "maternal affection" you seem to be so good at," Codsworth advised.

"Oh," she blushed, catching my glance, "I suppose."

"I'll come with you," I suggested, "Maybe Shaun really needs his dad."

So we both crept back to Shaun's room. He was still fussing like he had been, but his face lit up when he saw us walk in the room. It was a shame we didn't usually have time to care for him.

"How's my favorite little man doing?" she cooed as she stood above his crib. She looked happy.

"Hey, what about me?" I asked, feigning offence.

She sighed, "You aren't little, hon. But you are my favorite man."

I scoffed, "Hey, I fixed his mobile a few hours ago. Spin it for him, he loves that."

After a minute or two of her playing with Shaun, I cleared my throat, and her gaze shifted. "So," I began, "After my speech, I was thinking we could head to the park for a bit. Weather should hold up."

She smiled, "That sounds lovely, but it might be a little dark by then, hon."

"Well, maybe we could -" I began to propose.

"Sir! Mum! You should come and see this!" Codsworth called from the other room. He sounded distressed.

"Codsworth?" Nora asked, "What's wrong?"

I peeked my head out of the doorway only to hear -

"Followed by... yes, followed by flashes.

"Blinding flashes." My vision brightened, like I'd been hit with a hundred flashbangs. My ears were ringing.

"Sounds of explosions... We're... we're trying to get confirmation... But we seem to have lost contact with our affiliate stations... We do have... coming in... confirmed reports. I repeat, confirmed reports of nuclear detonations in New York and Pennsylvania. My God."

"We need to get to the Vault, now!" I screamed back, "Get Shaun, let's go, let's go!"

But suddenly, things were different. As I peered outside, I saw not my home. My neighborhood. I saw the wreckage of it. Grey. Lifeless. I looked back behind me and Shaun and Nora were gone, the room destroyed. Then...

"What?"

boom