Prologue: The Vault is Open

October 23, 2327. 8:00 A.M.

Somewhere beneath New York City

Silence was not uncommon in the current day and age. Between the barren plains of the Wastelands and the burnt-out husks of cities, it was not hard to see why. Here, however, the silence moved beyond the realm of unsettling and into the category of deafening. The atmosphere in the dark tunnel was one of an inexplicable dread, potent enough that even the mutated rodents and insects that inhabited the passages stayed away from it. If one were to inexplicably wake up in the tunnel, the complete lack of sound combined with the oppressing darkness would provide no hint as to where they were.

For two and a half centuries, this tunnel remained undisturbed, untouched by hands human or otherwise. For two and a half centuries, the massive, gear shaped steel door at the end of the tunnel had remained sealed, the only clues to its purpose being the massive yellow '1' emblazoned on its front. Even on the other side of the door, deep within the Vault, the only activity was the shelter's artificial intelligence monitoring the structure's many vital systems.

But now, the computer's attention was drawn to a previously untouched subscript as a timer finally reached zero. The computer immediately began following its preprogrammed instructions, carrying out its primary purpose.

In the deepest part of the Vault, a small cryogenic pod began to thaw. Arms grasped the small spherical container within the pod and began to descend towards a humanoid form beneath them, inserting it into the form's head. As the arms detached, the wires connected to the pod's contents - a single human brain - attached to the corresponding ports within the android body's skull. Metal pieces folded over the pod, completely concealing the pod from view. The two circular lenses and the small rectangular screen on the faceplate lit up with a light blue glow as the brain awoke. For the first time, the body moved as the hand twitched experimentally, before moving up into view of the figure's faceplate, who turned it back and forth, examining it with mild interest.

Suddenly, the chamber's lights flashed on, and the computer's voice greeted it's creator.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Dr. Warden. Time since commencement of cryogenic stasis: 250 years exactly, as ordered."

Outside, the silence and darkness were broken for the first time in 250 years, as two small lights began to flash red with a dull buzzing, catching the attention of a few brave insects that had ventured into the tunnel. They quickly scattered, though, as with a massive groan, the metal door unsealed, pressurized air hissing out as it was pushed backward out of its frame, before sliding out of view to the right. A single figure emerged. He looked around at the empty tunnel silently before speaking to no one in particular.

"Now then…" Dr. Warden spoke, the line on the faceplate's mouth fluctuating as he spoke, "let's see how the world has fared since it ended."

And without another word, he began making his way down the tunnel.

A/N: I know, it's short, but it's setup. This does not reflect the length of future chapters. Think of it as a sort of trailer for what's to come.