Sole Survivor Protocol

A heart monitor softly beeped.

The door to the room slowly swung open, to reveal a family. A little girl and her parents. Come to see the former savior of the Commonwealth. Third one today, and it was only six in the morning.

Three flags were raised in the outskirts of Diamond City. The canned sound of a bugle echoed throughout the stadium, announcing the colors as they rose. People gathered around. Everyone stopped what they were doing, just for a moment.

At the very top flew a masterfully crafted American Stars and Stripes. The flag of the great nation, before it fell to a nuclear holocaust, and the world was changed. That moment…three hundred years had passed since that moment. And the few civilized people of the Commonwealth recognized the flag still. Even now, a similar such spectacle was occurring in Goodneighbor. Home of the outcast. The drifters, the unwanted. On a large screen in Vault 81, a recorded video of the ceremony played, and the unending work of the dwellers was paused, in consideration for days past.

The second flag flew proudly next to the first. Years of hard work, diplomacy, and dedication by many parties made the second flag fly true. The Vitruvian Man, to symbolize the Institute. A sword, surrounded by gears-the unmistakable insignia of the Brotherhood. A lantern in a circle…an homage to the roots of the agency known only as the Railroad. And the cross of the musket and the lightning, a banner for the resurrected Minutemen. An unholy alliance, at one time thought to be completely impossible by most, and very unlikely by everyone else. And yet, they had unified. Against all odds, they worked side by side, in hopes of one day rebuilding the Commonwealth and paving the way for civilization to continue. The flag of the Unified Commonwealth. Truly a sight to behold.

"Our little girl wanted to talk to you, Sole Survivor."It was difficult, seeing someone who was once the rallying force of a torn and decrepit nation, the rallying call of the Commonwealth, degraded to such a state. And yet, despite his condition, despite everything he was going through, still he did not remove his gas mask and helmet. Still he lay dressed in worn combat gear, as though ready to jump out of the bed and fight the scum of the Earth, like he always had.

The third flag hung limp. And yet, many thought it to be the most important. The most symbolic. The one most worth fighting for.

The parents left the room. Uneasily, the daughter who could not have been older than 12 shifted from foot to foot. "Um…Sir? I just wanted to say a couple words to you…"

A sudden gust of wind rushed past the flagpole of Diamond City. The worn fabric of the third flag lifted, if just for a moment. For a split second, all observers saw it in its glory. To an outsider, it would look simply like a gas mask and a helmet. This same outsider would be very confused at how the people of Diamond City dropped their heads in respect. But the true meaning was lost on none. Across the land, Raiders and Gunners alike flinched involuntarily at the knowledge that the flag of a savior had flown, that for one moment he lived again in his full glory and had come to provide justice to their barbaric practices. The flag of the Director of the Institute. The Elder of the Brotherhood. The General of the Minutemen. The leader of the Railroad. The de facto patriarch of the largest plot of land since the nukes dropped.

The legendary Sole Survivor.

Destyni was overcome with nervousness. "I…I just want to say that…our family is really grateful for all you've done. You…saved the wasteland. So many people have been saved by your generosity."

She almost yelped when the subject turned over in his bed to look at her.

"What's your name?"

"I'm…My name is…Destyni…"


"Kid, this plan you've got…I'm not even sure it will work. The Sight can't reach that far."

The Sole Survivor slammed his hands on the table, surprising but not startling Mama Murphy.

"I don't need to know if it will work. Who do I need to look for? When the time comes…who will be the one to carry the burden? Who will save the Commonwealth, and execute my plan? Please…please do just this before you give up the chems."

Relaxing into her chair, Mama Murphy took the hit of jet. Secrets of the future…fate itself unraveled for her to see plainly. This would be her final time using her gift. The final, and most absolute prediction made by the woman gifted with the Sight.

"She will be able…she will be willing. She represents your legacy, everything you've done and will do. She will be the one to carry out your plan. There will be troubles…there will be consequences." Squinting her eyes, the old woman frowned. "When destiny comes knocking, you will do well to answer. For she alone will have the pure soul and the mental strength to carry out your final testament to the world."


It took immense effort, but the Survivor shifted his weight. He directed his full attention to the girl before him.

"Tell me…what would you do if I told you there was a way to save me?"

Gasping, the girl stepped back. He had not addressed anyone like this since he had been bedridden. But gathering her strength, she answered truthfully.

"I would scour the Commonwealth and beyond. You're the banner of ages past, present, and future. It would be an…an honor…to do anything in my power to help you."

Slowly, but surely, the former Vault Dweller lifted his mask.

The fiery eyes, a trademark of his expression…his chiseled face, his perfectly groomed beard…they were gone. All that remained was a husk. He was old…older than could be believed. Nothing of his glory, his hardened battle expression, could be found on this face of an ancient, tired man. He could be mistaken for a feral ghoul.

"I've fallen, Destyni. There's nothing left of me in this body. But there's one more thing that needs to be done. One final action I must take on behalf of the commonwealth."

The decrepit old man raised his trembling arm, on which a Pip Boy still rested upon.

"Eject."

A holotape slid out of the slot in the arm-mounted database. Painted a steely green, no words were printed upon it. No instructions were given. He reached across his chest and grasped the holotape firmly in his right hand. Bringing it over to the bewildered girl at the side of his bed, he slowly pressed it into her hands.

"Destyni. The challenges you will face on this journey will be harsh. But you will pull through. This holotape contains the last of my life. Follow the instructions within to the fullest, and never, ever waver from your path. I believe in you." The symbol of a war, of a nation, of hope itself, rested back on his bed, and closed his eyes.

The whole way back to her house, Destyni said nothing to her parents. They asked her how the meeting had went, and she would simply smile and nod. Upon entering the house, her parents went into the room adjacent to hers, to cook dinner on a barely working oven. Getting into a chair, Destyni swiveled around, and accessed the family terminal.

AWAITING INPUT

With a hint of hesitation, Destyni swallowed and pushed the blank holotape into the slot at the base of the terminal.

Loading Holotape…

Sole Survivor Protocol has been initiated. Please proceed to the next screen to receive your instructions.

(A/N: I'm going to try my hand at writing something with an actual plot. Unbound Dremora will continue to update, but this idea has been bouncing around in my head for a while. I decided I would throw it out there and see what the response is like.)