Chapter 4: Flashbacks from a Dead Double

Whiteness. That's all that James was in, which was a change in scenery from the blackness that he felt from when he fell asleep. 'Would make sense if I fell asleep and after all that I went through I went and fell asleep.' He thought. James looked around until he someone standing there before him. He soon found out that it was him alternate self that stood there.

"If you're getting this, then it's got someone that I trust or a clone of myself, or even you come from a parallel universe. Haven't thought of that." He started to mumble to himself. "Anyways," he continued, "I need you to go find my father, possibly yours and help him in his project. According to the records I found in the living quarters of my own house, my father James Rouse Sr. happened to plan for his return back to aboveground in 2277 AD."The recording said.

James noted that his alternate self's demeanor was slightly different. His physique was slightly slimmer than he was, having a bit of muscle to him. He was curious as to why his alternate self didn't survive the apocalyptic world that was out there.

The message then continued, "He decided to try and leave me safe in the Vault, but I wanted to escape to help him. The unfortunate thing is that is if you found this message on some dead body somewhere, then I'm dead or missing and probably can't finish the mission."

Suddenly, information as well as memories from his alternate self seemed to flash before his mind. Soon, he had all the information that his alternate self had, and more. "This is my wish. Find my father, help him in any way you can, and most importantly, finish my job as the one who left the Vault." He then looked at James, who was taken by surprise by it. "Good luck, me." He said.

James suddenly woke up, springing up from his bed. He soon relaxed into a sit up position, allowing the information to absorb into his head.

"Ah, good. You're awake I see." The nurse said. James looked towards the nurse, and then took off his glasses. He then placed on his actual glasses. Standing before him was a woman in the same suit as him. He soon realized that he was in Vault 101, and the Tardis seemed to take him to where he was needed.

"Well, you aren't sick, which that's a relief. So that means that you're free to go." She said. as she pulled the IV out of his arm, then rubbed it with a special wipe. James thanked her then left the doctor's office. James smiled as he started to remember things like his home, so he decided to find some answers.

After a few minutes of wandering through the Vault…

James soon made it to his house, or where he, his dad and his mom lived in. He soon started to remember things in this as he walked through the house. Amata spotted James as she passed the doorway of her friend's place. She followed him, as he looked around.

James soon found a worn-leather journal lying on his bed, which confused him, until there was a sudden flash.

Flashback: Two Years ago…

James was messing with his Pipboy 3000 out of boredom, when his dad suddenly came through the door. James looked up from his Pipboy, looking up at his dad. "Dad, what's wrong?" "Nothing son, I'm just thinking about your mother." He said, as he decided to sit down on the bed. James sat up, then went and sat next to his dad. He sighed, then said, "Son, I think that something has come up." James looked at his father, who was confused on why he said that.

"Listen, I need you to stay here and live your life," he started, as James looked at his father, "I have some unfinished business in Megaton." "Where's that Dad?" James said. His father looked at the young boy, then said, "That's beyond this Vault and I'm needed somewhere else," he paused as he started to think. James looks at his dad, confused at what his father was thinking, "I need to finish a project that I, myself and some others, are planning to possibly save humanity, but not yet."

"Promise me that you won't leave this Vault." "Dad, if you left this place, I would follow you to the ends of the earth."

"That's exactly what happened," James said, as he picked up the leather journal before him. "He tried to follow him to the ends of the earth and failed miserably." He flipped it in his hands looking at it from all angles, then said, "I wonder what he was planning." he muttered to himself, having a feeling, as if someone was with him at that time.

Opening the journal he started to read it.

Mar. 15th, 2275: What my father has told me.
My father must be crazy to go out into that deathtrap known as outside. But from what I heard, my father has a responsibility to do after… hang on, I'm doing some calculations. Seventeen years, when I was born. There must have been something secret about my orgins, but what is it?

I know that my mother died when I was born, but where was I born?

'My mother on this Earth died?' James thought, as he read that sentence. James was confused for a moment, then decided to read further into the journal.

My father is hiding something about me, but maybe I'm just paranoid. In any case, I must try to deal with a bit of a problem dealing with Butch, again.

James flipped through the pages until he noticed the date. July 13th, 2277

July 13th, 2277: The event of a lifetime.

My father has just left me, and on my birthday too. I presume that it involved his project years ago called Project Purify and my only friend to help me is my friend Amata, who is the Overseer's daughter.

"That was two months ago when you left." She said. James quickly turned around to see Amata standing there. "You've been acting strangely ever since you got out and realized that the items you pulled off the body was from you." James said nothing but realized that she was right. Ever since he left his alternate self's glasses on his face one night, he started to feel strange.

Without warning, pain shot up his spine and into his head, causing him to collapse almost to a point of fainting. Amata quickly ran up to him, and tried easing him down, while James tried easing himself onto his bed. His brain started to feel different, and that's when he started to act strange

Flashback: July 13th, 2277
'If you're reading this, then that means that I've returned for a important reason and or I'm dead and about to embark on a journey to which no one Vault Dweller has ever gone beforehand. I plan on going to find my dad and if I don't return or another me has, remember your mission.

Find dad, and help him in his latest project.

Good luck.'

As James (or alternate James) closed the journal, he heard noises outside his room, as if they were looking for him. He placed his journal on his bed, then headed out to face the cops.

Present day: Sept. 15th, 2277
James shook as his mind flashed images before his eyes. He heard noises of long ago and remember thing that never happened. As he spazzed out, Amata stroked James head till he started to calm down for a few minutes.

Everything seemed peaceful, until a shot rang out in James' head causing him to gasp awake. "Project Purify, Megaton, The Great War, DAD!" he finally exclaimed. "James? What is it?" Amata said, alarmed at James' brand new state. James took a few deep breaths as he leaned onto the side of his bed, allowing his brain to take in all of the memories left by his alternate self.

"Amata, I remember what my Alternate self left behind for me," he started as he placed a hand on his head. He closed his eyes as he tried to retrace what he did to find himself on the outside world. He started to follow what happened to him as he tried and failed at finding his father. It was strange, his life wasn't exactly synched up, but close enough from the month.

For you see, at the exact month and day he was escaping the Vault, James had been working on the equations to travel to another version of Earth.

That was two months before his Alternate self died and he ended up replacing his doppelganger by accident.

James then realized one thing, "Amata, I need to escape from Vault 101 again."