Chapter One

Vault 100 Living Quarters Room 42

"War. War never changes. It does. It does indeed when you stop meeting face to face to settle your quarrels and start hiding behind big red buttons and harbingers of doom. Come on, folks, we can't let our chosen leaders gamble with our lives like this!…Well, this is Clubs fighting the good fight and saying good night."

END OF HOLOTAPE

Harold rubbed his eyes as he stared into the luminescent green screen of his personal terminal. Life had certainly changed the moment he bore witness to the clouds of ash and death. He used to be an avid radio listener listening for the latest editions of Grognak the Barbarian or Action Man. He was especially fond of Galaxy News Radio and their late night paranoia broadcast. Seven hours of conspiracy theories, interviews with supposed alien abductees, people who supposedly were in possession of top secret government information.

Most of the time it was inconclusive, other times it was nonsense, but there was one specific event when a man who had worked for Vault-Tec had word that the Vaults were built to perform experiments on its inhabitants. The man disappeared; never showed up the next day for another interview. He just disappeared.

Harold picked up his large box of holotapes to search for that specific broadcast. He needed to hear the man's voice again. He needed to determine if the man wasn't another crackpot looking for his fifteen minutes.

Vault 100 Living Quarters Cafeteria

Winston calmly strolled to the long line waiting for another morning of synthetic eggs and powdered milk. He didn't take notice to the people rushing past him to get a good spot in line as if they were actually waiting for something good. He was more concerned with the way his feet touched the white linoleum on the ground.

Just as he reached his spot in line disappointing a couple trying to cut in front of him the intercom cackled to life. Then came the voice of the Overseer over the light static.

"Good morning, fellow Vault dwellers, and welcome to another fine day of life. Go through the course of today with a hop in your skip and hope in your hearts for you are the Last, Best Hope of Humanity. And don't forget to sign up; those of you haven't already, for temporary Vault responsibilities. We still have space for bathroom duties and waste duty. Please enjoy the rest of this fine Vault day!"

Winston chuckled at the audacity of the Overseer. He didn't hate the man for he did not know him. But he despised the man's ignorance because the Overseer really bought into that crap about anybody in the Vault being the "Last, Best Hope for Humanity." Winston knew that at this very moment that there are survivors waiting out the radiation and fallout. Waiting for when it's safe to see if there is still an America to walk on.

Winston didn't want this Vault, or the jumpsuit, or the Pip-Boy. He would rather be out there in all the radiation a man could ask for. He wasn't suicidal, at least that's what he told his doctor, but he was prepared. He knew this day would come, and when he received a letter in the mail stating he won a lottery he never put his name in he knew he would never step foot in a Vault as long as he lived. But he did for only one reason. The same reason men drive motorcycles and put all kinds of dangerous chemicals into their hair: a woman.

Vault 100 Overseer's Office

Wilhelm shook his head in shame just as he finished his daily speech on the intercom. "These people don't want to hear my voice every time they wake up." He searched his desk for his aspirin. When he came up empty he got up from his seat and started pacing in front of his desk. "Maybe I should speak with the Heads again, you know, clear things up. I just feel a little nervous about this project. I don't want to make these unsuspecting people my lab rats." He stopped and looked up at the ceiling. "Ugh, I'm talking to myself again."

"Sir?" The sound of Mr. Raia's voice surrounding him startled Wilhelm.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Please open up, Sir, I have your coffee and aspirin."

"Oh yes, of course. You read my mind, young man."

"It's my job, Sir. So, how are you today?"

"I'm fine, I suppose." Mr. Raia gave the aspirins to Wilhelm and motions to give him the coffee. "I'm too old for this. I should have prospected somewhere else other than becoming an Overseer." Wilhelm accidentally knocked the cup of coffee on Mr. Raia's hands, but Mr. Raia hadn't winced from the hot liquid. "Oh my! I'm so sorry. Look at me. I'm such a foo-" Wilhelm stopped and stared quietly into Mr. Raia's eyes. Mr. Raia stared blankly back.

"Is there something wrong, Sir?"

"Was that fresh coffee?"

"Straight from the dispenser, Sir."

"Didn't you feel the burn."

"No, Sir, I did not. Is there something wrong, Sir?"

"But…well…it should have burned you."

"Well, you see, Sir, it's hard to notice burning or pain when you have no nerves."

"Why don't you any nerves?"

"Sir…I'm an android."