In the Beginning
APRIL 17, 2290, CAPITAL WASTELAND, NEW OAKTON
Some called it paradise, others well... they called it a shithole. But Karl called it home. He'd lived in New Oakton his whole life, since the place was established. He had a father named Michael and a mother named Juliet. His father was one of the wastelanders who founded it fifteen years ago. New Oakton was probably one of the newest settlements in the wasteland (Constructed just a year before Karl was born). It wasn't nearly as large as nearby towns such as Megaton, Arefu and Big town.
Once when he was ten years old Karl went to Megaton with his father and some merchants to trade Brahmin for supplies. It was the only time Karl left New Oakton and the walls that sheltered him from the world. For past those safe walls that kept everyone safe lay the Raiders, Slavers and man eating creatures. Not a place for a young boy to be. It was a two day journey to megaton and back, not including the delays the Brahmin would add on for they were a slow and cumbersome animal. Brahmin are mutated cows that roam the empty dry fields of nearly all of America. They are more weathered looking and carry two heads instead of one, an abnormally large udder hangs from its underside nearly scraping along the flat ground. Every settlement in the Wasteland had domesticated Brahmin, for they served as a supply of meat and milk during the harsher times. The trade caravans that travelled from place to place would use these non intelligent creatures to carry their loads of supplies.
The first day was pretty quiet on the trek. A pack of mole rats attacked the group while they were crossing a valley a few miles south of Arefu. After the nuclear fallout Mole rats were one of the many animals that increased in size, an average size for one would be about the size of a wolverine. Scientists from a place called Rivet city predicted that during the mutations from the radiation and toxic chemicals from the war, the Mole rats were one of a few species that grew to ridiculous sizes. They predicted that the growth hormone in this animal could not be controlled and so the creature would just keep growing.
This same effect happened to scorpions, insects and even ants. Though there has been conspiracy regarding that the abnormal ant size in specific population was created through a failed human experiment. These weren't the first mole rats Karl had seen; often Karl would fire a few shots with his air rifle at ones that would harass the Brahmin in his settlements animal pens. The pellets of course wouldn't be fatal, once hit by a pellet and the mole rat would usually be shocked and run off.
Though on this occasion there was more than one, the mole rats charged in a close knit group. Karl's dad immediately un-slings his hunting rifle, loads the chamber and aims down the iron sights. A shot rang out through Karl's ears as the leading mole rat collapses into a lifeless roll. The remaining mole rats scattered and shuffled off into some nearby shrubbery. After the encounter Karl is given an old Chinese war pistol, it wasn't in the best condition but at least it could help keep him out of harm's way.
By night fall the group made camp in a pre war destroyed house outside the old remnants of Springvale (a pre war estate). Throughout the night Karl would hear the snorts and cries of the wasteland animals, Karl swore he heard a few rifle shots at one point. Occasionally in the distance small lit fires could be seen flashing as small dots. Once the sun had risen the group was off and before midday they had finally reached Megaton.
Pre war aeroplane husks and old junk served as the settlements defensive walls and lookout towers rose above them like the tallest trees poking out of a canopy. Traders walked in and out of the massive gates which were two old aeroplane wings that would close like a great pair of scissors. This place was truly a wonder of the wasteland. Karl explored inside Megaton while his dad talked business with some Megaton settlers outside about the Brahmin. He also went to see an old friend from his days of youth. He introduced his friend to me and the man shook Karl's hand so tight that Karl could feel his finger bones crack. All Karl could remember from the man was his dirty beard and broad strong physique.
The interior of Megaton was a giant crater at least 200 metres wide and about 40 metres deep. Rows of shack like houses circled the opening of the crater, basic retail, utilities and town buildings filled out the base and inner part of the crater. The centre of the town in the middle of the crater laid an old defused pre war atomic bomb. It was quite a shock for Karl to see people living around something that annihilated the old world. On the way back out to the gates; Karl stopped by the local supply shop to buy some air rifle pellets and a magazine clip for his Chinese pistol.
By the late afternoon everyone was ready to move out and head back home. Again the group decided to make camp in last night's place. Karl was a little more confident the second night, he unravelled a rag to sleep on and rolled a coat into a ball to use as a pillow and finally got to rest. He tried to get to sleep but so much excitement from the day denied it. So Karl stared at the night sky, trying to make up constellations with the stars. A heavy shriek echoed from the distance, Karl sat up in surprise. He strained his eyes from where the noise came from and waited. Another heavy shriek met his ears coldly, the noise pinpointed towards a large silhouetted building. He could see two red dots moving about closely together, hairs started to ride on his neck. "It's only a feral ghoul" a voice whispered behind him, Karl turned around to see his father behind him. "A ghoul?" Karl replied confusingly.
His father started to explain to him what it was "well after the bombs fell the survivors stayed in contact with the dangerous radiation levels left behind, over time their bodies began to mutate" he paused for a second as another shriek was heard. "They slowly lost their hair and the skin on their bodies flaked off and soon they were a radiation affected person, they called these things ghouls".
He started tucking Karl back into his rug "these ghouls still had full brain use and interacted with what they call 'smooth skins' that's us or what they call us" he said with a small dry laugh "though after a while some ghouls that still stay in contact with radiation begin to lose brain functions, lose the ability to reason and end up becoming feral and creature like. I hope you never have to see one for they are a fright and hideous to see" he ended. "Now it's best you get some sleep" he finished as he went back to his sleeping mat.
A few hours later the sun began to rise and the ghoul had stopped its chilling cries. The trek back was more difficult than before; the day was dry and hot with much of the path being uphill. By midday they had already reached the plains south of Arefu. The Mole rat that Karl's father killed was still where they left it; its carcass had been half devoured probably by its friends from the other day.
Not much else was seen after that apart from the occasional bloat fly and radiated scorpion in the distance. The group was met with a warm welcome home at the arrival of their settlement. Karl saw his mother Juliet outside the gates feeding the Brahmin in the enclosure, he dropped his pack and sprinted to her in open arms and gave her a tight hug. It was his first time away from his mother.