Nora dropped to her knees coughing causing blood to spatter the floor. Apparently the thawing process wasn't as perfected as the freezing process. The little oversight had caused a couple of blood vessels in her mouth to pop upon exiting her cryostasis pod. While it was a bit uncomfortable. Nora hoped that was the extent of the side effects of Vault 111.
Picking herself up off the floor. She tried to ignore the sounds of the evacuation siren. Moving to her husband Nate's pod. She placed her small pale hand on the glass. Tracing a delicate finger over the outline of his face. "Don't worry Nate. I'm gonna find who did this, and I'm gonna make them pay." Nora vowed as she walked away from his temporary tomb.
She hoped that it wouldn't be long before she could come back, and bury her husband with the honors due his life. However there was no time for that now. First she had to get outside, and find out how much the world had changed in the who knows how long since they had been under ground.
Opening the doors. Nora began her journey towards the Vault's exit. "Shit." She muttered as the direct door to the exit refused to open. "Guess I'll have to go around." She sighed opening the side door.
As she journeyed through the Vault. Nora found a security baton lying on one of the sealed crated. Picking it up she inspected the collapsable weapon. "Can't be much different than swinging a softball bat." She mused remembering her time on the softball team in college.
It had been where she had first met Nate. He worked the concession stand during games to make money while his GI bill paid for his schooling. Most of her upper middle class, and high class friends had frowned on her associating with a low class scholarship student. Nora had waved them off. Enjoying Nate's sense of humor, and duty to his country.
They had started dating mid way through the season, and had been married shortly before he was deployed to the frontlines to fend off the Chinese invaders in Alaska. They had spent a passionate night in the park the evening before he shipped out. That night had resulted in Shaun's conception.
Nate had been ecstatic. Writing in his letters home how he couldn't wait for the war to be over, and come home to help raise their family.
Nora sighed as she pulled herself out of her thoughts. Reminiscing about the past wouldn't help her any here. For now she needed to focus on surviving. She needed to find her way out of here, and find her son.
She found her way into the Overseer's office. Along the way she had spotted the corpses of what looked to be giant roaches. "The radiation in the air must have mutated them." She mused, as she picked up the pistol off the desk. "if radiation did that to roaches. There's no telling what it's done to the other animals." She said attaching the holster to her Vaultsuit.
Grabbing the satchel from the under the desk. Nora loaded the stimpacks from the desk into the main pocket. Logging into the Overseer's terminal. Nora decided to do some digging on what Vaulttec was really doing.
The logs stated that the company was conducting a social experiment on the effects of cryostasis on the human psychology. She also found that the company had stored what was called a Garden of Eden Creation Kit in the Vault. It was meant for the Vault Dwellers to reclaim the surface after the incident.
Looking through the information available. Nora found that the crate was stored in the security room alongside the weapons the Vualttec kept for any unforeseen threats. Using the Overseer's terminal. Nora looked unlocked the door next to her. Which apparently contained all the weapons the Vault had.
Inspecting the room she found a pump action shotgun, several boxes of shells, a ammo belt with three grenades attached to it, several boxes of 10mm shells, three empty magazines, and the G.E.C.K which was placed on a rolling cart.
Grabbing hold of the cart. Nora began pushing it toward the exit. Luckily her hair tie had survived the thawing too. Having her long red hair in her face would be a real nuisance right now.
The rest of her journey to the surface was uneventful. Though she did happen to find a working Pipboy lying on one of the scientist's skeletons. It came in handy as it was the only way to open the door leading into the Vault.
Once she reached the surface. Nora found that her town lie in ruins. From atop the hill she could see that only a handful of houses had stayed standing. Though they weren't necessarily houses more along the lines of termites holding hands.
Venturing down into the old neighborhood. Nora spotted something she never thought she'd see again. Codsworth scrubbing the walls of her old home. "Codsworth is that you?" She called out as she reached the street corner.
The machine turned around whiring slightly. "Mum is that you?" He asked moving closer. "Oh thank the maker it is you mum." The robot exclaimed happily. The two went into a conversation involving Shaun's whereabouts, Nate's murder, and her new surroundings. Codsworth informed her about the new threats of the Commonwealth.
The new factions that had arisen in her absence. He didn't know much about the outside world. As he only traveled to Concord on occasion for Mr. Handy fuel. However some of the local terminals did turn up logs. Stories of raiders, a mercenary group called the Gunners, things called Super Mutants, and Ghouls.
Nora had a thought on what the Super Mutants may be. She had snuck a peak at Nate's files one night. Apparently the military had been working on something called the Forced Evolutionary Virus. Apparently it had been designed to create super soldiers to combat the Chinese.
The early experiments had failed resulting in mutated mindless killing machines. Nora didn't know how they were still alive. According to the reports the Mutants were sterile. They couldn't reproduce normally. So how could they still be around.
Nora decided it was best to get some kind of training, before leaving Concord. Luckily Nate had snuck one of the Mr. Gutsy combat processors out of the National Guard post, before he had assembled Codsworth. He had put it in for home protection when he was at drill, or deployed.
Codsworth had advised Nora to work on constructing a bed, while he worked on setting up a training station for her to practice with her new pistol. The shotgun was a lot easier. More, or less point center mass, and pull the trigger. The pistol took a bit more Nora would have to pick up quick if she wanted to find her son.
So under Codsworth's instruction. Nora began practicing on empty milk, and Nuka Cola bottles. Her aim wasn't atrocious in so many words, but it seemed she lacked the ability to use iron sights. Thinking quickly Codsworth gathered the necessary material, and instructed Nora on how to build a circle reflex sight.
After the new attachment was built. Nora had a much easier time firing the weapon. Most of her shots hit. Which meant she could hit a person from a decent length away. While she hoped it wouldn't come to that. What she heard about the Commonwealth reinforced the thought that death was a daily thing in the area.
Seeing as how Codsworth didn't need to sleep. Nora had instructed him to begin scraping the ruined houses, and using whatever salvageable parts he found to repair her own. While she didn't plan to stay sedentary. She knew the importance of having a base of operations. While the Vault was sturdy. Nora didn't want to rely on the relic elevator to always work.
Codsworth was more than ecstatic to begin working on the repairs. He seemed most happy to simply have someone to serve again. He had even managed to find Nora a sealed can of pork, and bean alongside a sealed container of water.
Luckily for Nora the G.E.C.K contained a terraforming device. It needed to be planted roughly a foot in the ground, but once planted would begin absorbing the radiation from the surrounding area. The container also provided a stash of seeds to grow new crops, a ballistic vest, a kevlar helmet, and several military manuals.
Nora decided to begin studying the tactics manual while she ate dinner. Codsworth had helped her in planting the terraforming device by the river before hand. Nora had also found that a popular weapon in the waste was the pipe weapon. Crudely fashioned into a pistol or rifle. It fired a .38 caliber round at a less effective range, accuracy, and velocity than an actual ,38.
Nora sighed as the sun began to set over the horizon. It seemed that her reading light was about to fade. Luckily Codsworth had the sense to repair her bedroom first. Even miraculously finding a pair of intact shutters to put over her window. It would do best if no one knew she was here at the moment. Even with Codsworth patrolling the premises. It wasn't impossible for someone to get the drop on her if they knew what to look for.
Leaving those thoughts for the morning. Nora unzipped her Vaultsuit, and stripped naked for the night. Using two of the intact coat hangers to let her garments air out overnight. If she remembered right there was a general store in Concord, With any luck there may still be some powdered laundry soap left to scavenge.
She'd make a note to look around for any spare clothing when she came back. From what Codsworth had told her. The people of the waste used Nuka Cola caps as currency. Since they were considered rare, and hard to counterfeit without the right equipment. With any luck she could find some in the morning, before leaving town. If nothing else they might buy her a place to stay for the night.
Morning soon came, and Nora had struggled to get any sleep. She chalked it up to the cryostasis fucking with her internal clock. Climbing out of bed Nore put her clothes back on, before venturing outside.
Codsworth bid her good morning, before entering the bedroom to power down into rest mode for a couple of hours to do his standard maintenance check. Deciding it was best to wait for him to re awaken, before leaving town. Nora began her search of the surrounding neighborhood. Checking rooms, and sidewalks for any kind of caps that might be lying around.
By the time Codsworth had re awaken. Nora's search had yielded two stimpacks, fifteen caps, eight bobby pins, and a double barreled shotgun from a body at the edge of town. She figured if nothing else it would make a decent trading tool later on.
Bidding the robot farewell. Nora began her journey into Concord. If she remembered right there was a Red Rocket truck stop down the street from her neighborhood. It may be worth searching for supplies.
Spotting the truck stop she saw what looked to be a beautiful German Shepherd. When he caught sight of her he bound toward her wagging his tail happily. "Hey there boy." She smiled rubbing his head. The dog barked happily in response. "Wanna come with me?" She asked smiling. The dog yipped licking her cheek. "Well alright then. Let's get going." She smiled standing.
As Nora stood she heard the sound of rumbling under the ground. The dog seemed to pick up on this as he barred his fangs growling lowly. Nora responded by drawing her pistol. From beneath the surface something emerged. It looked like a mutated rat. Hairless, with large fangs, and the size of a small dog.
It ran toward Nora. On instinct she raised the weapon. When she had the sights lined up with it's torso she fired. The bullet struck the creature in the back causing it to drop. Nora thought it was over until several more sprang up from the ground.
The dog charged forward digging it's fangs into one of them. Nora followed suit firing her pistol into two of them. They gave a sickening squeal as they fell to the ground. Once they fell Nora looked around for another enemy. The dog seemed to know there wasn't anyone nearby, as he was wagging his tail smiling happily.
Well that's chapter one. Chapter two should be out in a few days. If you like the story and wanna help me start writing fanfiction full time. You can donate to my barragemag
The paring for this story hasn't been set, so if you've got any suggestions I'm all ears.