She wakes. It's October 23, 2077. A Saturday.
Nathaniel nervously talks about his speech that night as he shaves. She brushes out her hair and smooths out her clothes. She pouts at her stomach. She's still carrying that extra weight from carrying Shaun. Nathaniel comforts her, reminding her everything will be okay. Shaun cries. Codsworth hovers by to check on the baby.
A Vault-Tec salesman stands nervous at the door. Time is a precious commodity, he says. There's room for all three of them. It will be peace of mind. She accepts.
Nate suggests a trip to the park after breakfast. Sounds lovely. Shaun cries again.
Codsworth's voice in the kitchen catches her ear.
Uncertainty.
Fear.
The bombs dropping. New York is gone.
She hears the sirens.
She panics.
Nathaniel has Shaun. They start running. They have to get to the Vault.
So many people at the gate. None of them going through.
She prays, and they're let through. She prays for those who aren't.
They run again.
The hill crests. They stand on the cog shaped platform.
An explosion, in the distance. Then another. Perfect little mushroom clouds. Another explosion, much closer, much bigger. Blinding. She panics. Shaun's going to die, Nate's going to die, She's going to die.
The platform moves.
They're safe, but just barely. She's still panicking.
Around them it's cold, dark, grey. She can't believe this is the view she'll see for the rest of her life.
She's handed a suit. Blue and yellow. She puts it on.
It's Itchy.
There're pods ahead. Decontamination, they say.
Shaun cries. She tries to comfort him.
Get in the pod, they say. She does. Nate and Shaun are across from her.
Cold surrounds her. There's frost in the window.
Fear permeates her.
She feels too heavy to move.
She feels herself slowly succumb to sleep.
She's awake, again.
Her body's stiff. Cold.
She hears voices. Scientists?
There's a man, and a scientist. In front of Nate and Shaun. The pod opens.
The scientist tries to take Shaun.
Nate doesn't let go.
The man has a gun. It's pointed at Nate.
She panics. She tries, but can't scream.
The gun goes off. Nate's head flies back. She can't scream.
The scientist takes Shaun. The man turns.
Anger fills her.
She still can't scream.
"At least we still have the backup."
She wants to tear at him with her hands. To rip him apart.
She's cold, again. Her eyes heavy.
She can't keep them open.
She won't forget.
A/N: As if I didn't already have two Fallout fics that I don't have much time to write on, I've decided to open a third. Against my better judgement.
Welcome to the prologue. Chapter 1 is in the works. I hope to have it done soon.