An alarm sounded behind me, signaling the Vault door closing, leaving me beyond its protection. In Vault 101, you're told many things throughout your life, One for example being "We're all born in the vault, and we'll die in the vault." This saying is one they drill into you from the moment you can understand what the adults are saying, that, and the constant worshipping of the Overseer. Yet here I was, standing alone in a cave outside the Vault. For my whole life, all I ever knew was the Vault, my only family besides my father was the Vault and it's people, my friends were all in the Vault, left to deal with the aftermath of me and my Dad's escape.

This was all sudden, too sudden, just a day earlier everything was fine, Dad went about his day like usual, being the Vault's doctor and making sure we were all healthy, and now he was a fugitive in their eyes, and by being his son, I was also a fugitive, and because of that I had to leave.

For all I knew I was entering a whole other world, because none of us have left the vault all we had to go on were rumors, some said the world above was a barren wasteland, empty of all life. Some said it was covered in a blanket of a lethal gas that could kill a man in just seconds, some claimed it was now inhabited by warmongering tribes of savages who had all but abandoned their civility for savagery and brutality. According to the Overseer's terminal, at the very least life does exist beyond our vault in the form of fire-ants, and in town named "Megaton", meaning by some miracle humanity did survive the Great War outside the Vaults, and had started rebuilding too. That didn't matter much to me at the moment, my ears listened to the big metal door as it slide itself back over my home, sealing me off from all that I had known forever.

"No" I tried to think, "Once I find dad...maybe...maybe if I hear Dad's side of the story..." I tried to think of a possibility where everything would be okay, where me and Dad would reunite and survive whatever was out there and return to the Vault after the Overseer calmed down, where he'd listen to us and everything would go back to the way it was. It was childish, and a naive thing to believe, but I have to admit it felt better to think that than take a more pragmatic approach to it.

Ahead of me, light seeped through an old wooden door, having fought valiantly against the elements for roughly two-hundred years, protecting the entrance to our Vault from whatever horrors stalked the wastes out there. I slowly approached the door, my hand slowly went to touch the handle, when it did I quickly retracted it, like a child having just touched a lit stove. I took a moment to stare at the door knob, a once gilded knob, now coated in a layer of rust. Then my eyes drifted to the door, where the light trickled through, I squinted my eyes, trying to see if I could catch a peak of what was out there, but I couldn't. Any more observation would require me to actually open the door.

'I can't believe this is even happening' I thought to myself as my hand gripped the knob, and to my surprise the knob still worked, twisting to one side, its job was done, now I had to push it open.

I slowly inhaled, held the breath in my lungs for a few seconds, before slowly exhaling it out. Looking straight ahead, I pushed the door open. I immediately held up my arms when I felt the full fire of the sun hit me, the Vault's lighting felt nothing like this. After my eyes adjusted I took a few more steps out and let the door fall shut behind me.

The sun had just finished rising, coating the sky both orange and blue. Ahead of me sat a handful of what were once houses, no leaving only their foundations and some furniture behind. A few dead trees dotted the sides of the cracked road below the mound I stood on, looking down, I saw the ground was hard and dry, the rest of the terrain I saw ahead looked similar. All the while I stood there taking it all in.

'Wow' I thought to myself, 'It really is a Wasteland up here.' I finished.

Now that I was out of the Vault, I didn't have much of a clue what to do next, my overall goal at the moment was to find Dad and get to the bottom of this whole problem, though I didn't have many ideas where to start, since Dad specifically said he didn't want me following him to wherever it was he was going, though he made that messaging thinking most of the Vault wouldn't have been pitted against me because of his escape. Then I remembered the town I read about in the terminal. Just then I heard a staticky sound emit from my Pipboy, I held it up to my face and found I had a new 'Quest' as my Pipboy called them.

-Following in his Footsteps

-Investigate the nearby town of Megaton for information about James.

Clicking on the objective sent me to the global map of my Pipboy, pointing Southwest of my current location. For a moment I stood there confused as to how it was able to find the city that fast, before I put anymore thought into it, I heard something scurrying towards me from the side.

I turned and side stepped just in time for a small, rodent-like creature to just miss me, clamping it's jaws in the spot my legs once stood at. When it landed, it turned its head from side to side for a second until it turned back towards me and snarled.

"What the-" it began hurrying towards me again, opening its jaws wide, wanting to chomp into my flesh. My hand fell to my belt and grabbed my 10mm. Before I fully raised the gun to properly aim my finger slipped and pushed the trigger, my arm jolted as the pistol dropped from my hand, luckily I didn't shoot myself, but landed a direct hit on the creature that was attacking me.

My heart raced as I stared at the now dead creature, I reached down and retrieved my pistol before reholstering it and started taking deep breaths.

Up until today I had only ever killed radroaches that broke into the Vault. Today, that changed, with the death of this rat-like thing, and-

I trembled as I tried to push back the memory, my first kill still fresh in my mind. The sight of Officer Mack lying on the ground, clutching his throat as-

"STOP!!" I shouted into the barren wasteland, I slammed my free hand into the dead tree nearby, the pain in my fist clouded my mind, helping to seal the memory off for now. Even then, my hands continued to shake.

For ten minutes I stood by the tree, trying to calm myself down, I couldn't stay there forever, the longer I was here the farther away Dad was getting. So I took another deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come, and followed my Pipboy's compass Southwest. During my walk, my device picked up on a weird radio signal called "Enclave Radio", when I first tuned in I thought it was some Pre-War propaganda channel that continued to play music for the past 200 years, then when the man named "President Eden" started speaking, giving speeches of what was once America and the struggle to return the Capital Wasteland to its former glory, I realized it was something else. This "Enclave" claimed they were the U.S. government, despite the fact that America fell two centuries ago.

After a few minutes, I looked up and saw another mound, with metal edges lining the top of it. This must have been Megaton.

I continued my walk to the strange formation, preparing myself for whatever hideous mutated beings I'd find there, assuming they were even humanoid to begin with.

*SNAP

I was upright within seconds, my face having been buried in my palms seconds earlier was now exposed to the world around me again.

"Great, day dreaming now of all times..."

I turned to see the Huntress staring at me, in her hand was the wand she used, which upon closer inspection, I discovered it was actually a riding crop. She was giving me a firm look. The events from earlier came rushing back to me in an instant, reaffirming the fact that I really was in another world. I got another notification from my Pipboy, scrolling into my EFF tab I noticed I had a new effect.

-Dissociation:

-Magic? Dust? A shattered moon? You're not where you belong are you? And that's taking quite the toll on your sanity.-2 Ch, -1 INT

Splendid, just another downside from tonight.

After the huntress floated us off the rooftops, she dragged us over to a police car and pushed us in. For the whole ride I was partially out of it thanks to shock. Once we got to the police station the Huntress brought us in, taking the girl's scythe somewhere, when they searched my body the Huntress told some of the officers to go back to the crime scene, saying I left a rifle and a 10mm back there. Little did they know I de-materialized both before she hauled me off the building, but I wasn't planning on telling anyone that, in case things went south I'd be able to use my weapons and escape. Moments later the two of us were taken to different rooms for what I assumed would be for interrogation. They did some tests on us and then left. I must've been here for five minutes before the Huntress returned.

"Now that I have your attention, we can begin." The huntress said firmly as she began pacing around my table.

"Ma'am, if this is about wha-"

"QUIET!" The huntress barked, "Do not talk over your elders boy!" She warned.

"Tonight, what you and your friend did was reckless, dangerous, and could have led to either of you getting hurt, or worse." The Huntress scolded as she continued to pace around the table.

"First off, we only met tonight, and I can hold my o-."

"What.Did.I.Say?" The woman cracked the riding crop again, my anxiety was starting to be replaced by frustration, I didn't know what hunters/huntresses exactly did in this world, but whatever it was, it didn't give her the right to be this much of an entitled jerk right now.

"Although, as I told your...'acquaintance'...if it were up to me, you'd be given a pat on the back..." the woman's voice softened, before her brow dropped "...and a slap on the wrist" her riding crop launched out again, almost hitting my wrist.

"Look, what else were we supposed to do? Ms...?" I trailed off, "Professor Goodwitch", she corrected. "Professor?" I cocked an eyebrow, why on earth was a professor here given the same clearance as an actual detective? Was it her status as a hunter? "Professor, we had no choice, heck they came up to us and tried to rob us. So really, they dragged us into that mess." I defended myself as I heard the door opened.

"Yet when the mastermind of that Dust heist made his escape, you both willingly chased after him, didn't you?" The newcomer inquired, he was an older man, but unlike the Shopkeeper, age had done little to him, his skin lacked even the slightest wrinkle that clung to the skins of most elders, he had spiked silver hair, and like Goodwitch, he had glasses that covered two brown eyes. He wore a green scarf with a dark, button up suit. He had a cane that for all I knew was also a gun.

"Headmaster, I wasn't expecting you to finish so soon." Goodwitch commented.

"Headmaster? As in a principal? Do the cops just let anyone in to question people?" I thought as the Headmaster approached us.

"There was little to discuss really, but I'm a little more interested in what our friend here has to say." The man took a seat opposite to me. He gave off a amicable vibe, but a wise one to. "Sorry if Professor Goodwitch was strict with you, she's like that a lot around youths like yourself." Goodwitch's eyes widened momentarily before recollecting herself. "Now, do you know who I am?" He asked.

"Not quite..." I started, "...are you a hunter like Goodwitch?" I guessed. The man smiled, "Yes, more of a retired one really, I'm the Headmaster of Beacon Academy, perhaps you've heard of that at least?" I hesitated for a moment, "A hunter academy?" I asked, "Huntsmen Academy, but that's not important yet." The man reached a hand over the table, "I'm Professor Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon Academy as I stated before." Ozpin greeted, I reached over and shook his hand.

"I'm..." I briefly wondered if I should still withhold my name as I did back in the Capital Wasteland. I ultimately decided to do so. "I'm just a Lone Wanderer." Ozpin and Goodwitch looked at each other for a second before Ozpin looked back to me, "Would that be your real name Mr. Wanderer? Or is it a label?" I shifted in my seat, "It's..." I paused for a moment, feeling that -2 kicking in, "It's sort of what I am. Most just call me a Lone Wanderer, and it's stuck." I half-lied.

"But what of your real name then? Surely you would like to be thought of more than just a drifter? Right?" Ozpin questioned. "I...I only trust it with those I'm close with." I stated, if he wanted to know my identity that bad I might as well be blunt with him. Officially I didn't exist in this world, and I wanted it to stay that way in case that robber decides to track me down to settle the score. "Is that so?" The Professor asked with a small chuckle, "Would you say you aren't too trusting of others

"No, not quite..." I replied, I was trusting, just not by much. "Well, what brings you to our city Mr. Wanderer?" Ozpin asked, "I...I got lost on the road and...and I went to the first city I saw. I had a map but I lost that out on the road." I explained, Ozpin nodded. "Being a traveler like yourself must come with difficulties, doesn't it Mr. Wanderer?" Ozpin asked, I nodded in response. "Would you say that you have experience in a fight then?" He questioned further. "Yeah, you don't travel as much as I do and not get into a brawl or two, it's why I also know how to shoot." I explained, "And so I've heard, you were attacked by at least four men at the shop, and with just a pistol you brought them all down, the last three within just twenty seconds I might add."

"I'm a good shot, nothing more to it than that." I answered feeling more comfortable now then earlier. So far this conversation was going well, and neither of these two pried too much either. "I don't want to be rude...but I can leave soon right?" I asked. "Soon, I want to ask a few more things." Ozpin replied, "One being your choice of clothing." He gestured to my armored jumpsuit, "A blue jumpsuit with a big '101' on your back. May I ask what it means?"

"That..." I paused, piecing together a half-truth that wasn't too revealing, "It's from my home. I live outside Vale, small community shut off from the rest of the world, this is what they made us wear, so it's just stuck with me I guess..." I trailed off. "Really? So why did you leave?". "Well...things happened...and... I had to leave, since then I've wandered around from place to place." I answered, hopping he wouldn't pry into that anymore. "Oh...sorry for bringing back any bad memories then..." The headmaster apologized, "It's fine..."

"Though come to think of it, hailing from an isolated community would explain why you don't seem to appear on any records then. Records from global databases and such...almost like you don't even exist..." Ozpin joked, it was then that I noticed a small glint in his eye, one that flickered with cunning.

"Yeah, funny right?" I gave a small chuckle, "Anything else you needed to ask?"

"Mmm...yes." Ozpin grinned. "Let me show you something I found peculiar, perhaps you could tell me what you think of it?" The Hunter pulled out a strange device, it consisted of two metal edges with a holographic screen between them, it showed a familiar street, the one I woke up in. He pressed a button on the screen, playing a video. At first all was calm, before a sudden flash of light could be seen from one of the alleyways, Ozpin pressed another button that seemed to speed up the footage, a few seconds later he slowed it back down. I watched as a figure emerged from the alleyway, dressed in a familiar blue jumpsuit with a big "101" on its back. I felt myself stiffen up, looking back to Ozpin, he took a more serious look, yet he still didn't look anymore hostile than he did during our talk.

That didn't change the fact that I soon felt the rising urge to materialize a weapon and start running, my mind started making a plan. Goodwitch can use some kind of magic and grab me if I was careless, that I knew, though Ozpin was a mystery for me, given he runs a whole Academy dedicated to training people like Goodwitch he probably can do some crazy stuff too. My best bet would be to use V.A.T.S first with one of my firearms, they don't know for sure that I can make firearms appear out of thin air so I have that going for me, I could hit one of them with V.A.T.S, then spring up and grab my chair and throw it at another one, or chuck it into the mirror, it should be a one-way mirror like in the Pre-War movies I'd seen. I'd then have to make a mad dash before Goodwitch could catch me again with her-

"Mr Wanderer." Ozpin's calm, yet firm voice snapped me out of my scheming. "While I don't know what you're thinking, I can tell you believe you're in danger, I assure you me and Professor Goodwitch mean you no harm, all I want is to know where you came from and what your business is here." Ozpin explained. Goodwitch held her riding crop tightly but made no movements to aim it at me. So I let my muscles relax and focused back into Ozpin.

"Well..." I cleared my throat, "If it isn't already obvious...I'm not from this world..." I started, "I think we all understand that at this point, why don't you then tell us a bit about this world you come from?" Ozpin suggested.

I nodded and spent the next half an hour giving the two a brief description of the Wasteland and it's...colorful history. Going from the Great War up to present day, sprinkling in what little I knew of the other parts of the Wasteland too. The whole time Ozpin sat there, taking in every detail I gave them. In a way it felt relieving telling these two my problem, even if I didn't know for sure if I could count on their help getting home.

"And that brings us to where we are, any questions? Need me to repeat anything?" I asked. "No worries Mr. Wanderer, we heard it all clear, curiously enough we had our own Great War a few decades earlier, though compared to your world, we were lucky in that it didn't end our civilization. Ozpin said. "But you on the other hand, are the one in need of help if your story is anything to go by." Ozpin commented. "Well, I want to go back, but you guys have been keeping me here and questioning me nonstop." I said. "So, can I leave then? After all, I'm still no closer to getting back than I was when I got here." I asked.

"Just like that you want to go back out there? Despite the fact that you don't even know how to get back?" Ozpin asked. "I mean, you wouldn't happen to have a way for me to go home would you?". "Not quite...but I do know of some people who could potentially lend a hand that is." Ozpin replied. "Who are they then?" I asked. "Curious aren't you? Well, they're scientists from the kingdom of Atlas, the most technologically advanced of all the kingdoms of Remnant." Ozpin revealed. "Remnant is the name of this planet, or our 'Earth' to you." Ozpin told me. "Okay, but you're sure these guys can help me?". "I'm certain they can. And I can call the head of Atlas with my scroll first thing tomorrow to have it arranged." Ozpin said, pulling out a device similar to the one he had earlier, only this one was smaller and white. "However, I won't exactly be doing this for free..."

"And here we go again." For once, could I just have something for free without having to do a favor for someone.

"...My price is a simple one Mr Wanderer. But first, tell me, what is it you think we hunters and huntresses do?". Ozpin quizzed me. "I suppose you guys are elite law enforcement of some kind, considering they let you and Goodwitch in her with no questions asked." I guessed, Ozpin chuckled slightly. "You are somewhat correct, but we don't just fight other humans. No, we are humanity's last line of defense against...monsters you could call them." Ozpin replied cryptically. "Monsters? What kind?" I was no stranger to beast slaying, after all: One does not simply walk into Old O'nly without killing a few Deathclaws.

"We call them the Grimm, they have existed long before man walked the Earth, the negative emotions of people draws them to prey, for as long as we can remember, humanity has been locked in an eternal struggle against these vicious creatures." Ozpin explained, "Though, I won't go into much more detail than that. You'll come to learn of them soon enough. For now, you need only to know that it's the duty of a huntsmen to keep these monsters at bay, and shield the rest of civilization from their maws."

"Now then, if you're wondering what my price is, it's rather simple: I want you to become a student at my academy." I sat there for a full minute in silence. "That's it?". "Yes, you'll attend Beacon academy as one of my students, you'll be attending classes and partake in training regiments just like the other first-years. You'll be given quarters, food, and weapons. All the while I'll hold up my end of the deal." Ozpin summarized. I was hesitant, this man I hardly knew was not only offering me a spot in his prestigious school for future monster hunters, but also going to help me get home, which was an entire universe away. This had to be a joke, right?

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"I don't want to sound rude Professor, I do appreciate the offer. But why would you go to those lengths just to help a stranger like me? You've only known me for a little over an hour, and vice versa for me. Yet your willing to give me a roof, food, and schooling while finding a way to send me home. Why go through all that effort then?" I inquired. Ozpin sighed, "I see potential in you Mr Wanderer, when you fought off those robbers at the dust shop, you had the chance to turn and run when the ringleader made his escape, yet like Ms Ruby, you chose to instead put yourself at further risk to catch him. And while you didn't apprehend him, because of you both, all the dust that was to be stolen was recovered and returned to its rightful owner." Ozpin paused. "And that's on top of the fact that you seem like a capable fighter. So Mr Wanderer, I've put my trust in you, will you trust me in return then?" Ozpin asked.

I had little reason at this pint to turn him down, while my name is the Lone Wanderer, I don't always enjoy wandering. Having a roof above my head and three meals a day however, is a luxury I'd be crazy to turn away, all while I get help going home. All I need to do is go back to school.

"You have yourself a deal Professor." I replied. "Good choice Mr. Wanderer, when you get out, I'll have a room booked for you at a nearby hotel, one that isn't a rundown shell of a building like your used to by the way. An airship will come by to pick up all incoming first years by 10:00 sharp, please be there on time. I won't have to explain the rest to you, it'll all come to you then." Ozpin stood up and walked over to the door, Goodwhich following not far behind. He turned to me one last time and said "Goodnight Mr Wanderer, and welcome to Remnant."

After Ozpin left, I received another notification from my Pipboy.

-You are no longer Dissociated.

Another notification sprang up from my Pipboy, signaling the completion of In a Strange Land.

To say today was rough would be putting it lightly, very lightly. For starters, I was hunted by people who I once considered my friends and neighbors when my Dad ticked off the Overseer, which led to many of those neighbors and my friends being killed either by radroaches, or the Vault security guards who're supposed to be protecting us. After leaving the Vault I found my way to Megaton, which was built around a literal nuclear bomb, luckily the town was inhabited by normal humans and not cannibal-mutants. When I met the town's mayor/sheriff, he wasn't able to help me much with my Dad. So after looking around I went to a bar belonging to a man named Moriarty. Upon meeting him, I discovered my life was a lie, and that my father and I weren't born in the Vault, but in the "Wasteland" itself, with my father having stopped by here almost 18 years ago on his way to the Vault, and stopped here again before I arrived here. But Moriarty wasn't telling me where he went for free. It was either pay him 100 caps, or run an errand for him to retrieve some caps a woman owed him and use force if needed. I tracked her down, listened to her side of the story and let her go. I told Moriarty I killed her for not having the caps and he was pleased, and then asked if I had the money to pay him, since that errand amounted to nothing for him.

I found myself leaning over a railing of one of the city's catwalks, overhead the sky started to glow a darker shade of orange than I saw earlier, signaling the end of my first day in the Wasteland, and I was still no closer to finding Dad then when I started.

"You probably shouldn't be leanin to much on those railings kid, if you're not careful enough they might give way, send on a nasty fall down to the bomb below." A familiar voice advised, I turned and was greeted by the sight of Lucas Simms, Megaton's sheriff, mayor, and any other occupation that was needed. He was the first resident of Megaton I met that day, though he couldn't help me much in regards to my search, from our first meeting I could see he was a nice guy underneath his otherwise tall and imposing form. He wore a faded brown hat that matched a duster an even darker shade of brown, add in the beard that covered most of his lower jaw and lips and he looked a lot like a cowboy, rumor was a big fan of cowboys.

"I'll keep that in mind." I complied and stood back up. "All good sheriff?" I asked. "So far, not a lot of folks came by after you, so quiet day overall." I nodded as my eyes drifted back over the town before me, I didn't focus on any point in particular, I just let my eyes wander. "I take it you haven't gotten much farther in your search. If that downcast look your sporting means anything." Simms observed. I gave a solemn nod, "The only clue I have is Moriarty." A frown crept onto the sheriff's face. "And he's not a charitable person either..." I sighed.

"I did warn you about him, no offense. Besides how can you trust-" I cut off Simms, "He knew my dad...my Dad was here before...years before he left the Vault...I was just a baby...Moriarty recognized us both." Simms quieted down, letting me speak more. "All my life, I was told I was born in that Vault, and like everyone else, I'd die in that Vault...both are lies...I wasn't born there, and chances are I'm going to die out here, probably even before I find-"

"Hey now, don't start that with me kid." Simms raised his voice. I went silent as Simms spoke again, "Look kid, I might not fully get what your feeling, but you can't just sit back and quit now. I won't sugar coat it, the Wasteland ain't a safe place, am lots of folks die out here, be it raiders, monsters, or just natural causes..." Simms paused as also looked over the sight before us. "...Probably not much different from whatever brahimn-shit they fed you in the Vault. But let me tell you something, there's still some good out there, past the mines, raider camps, and all that filth are some bits of good left in this wasteland. You just have to live long enough to see it kid, you've already gotten far by reaching this town, someday you might even make it to someplace like Canterbury or Rivet City...or find you're old man."

I remained silent, taking in what was said. "So don't lose hope yet kid, hopes a good thing to have out here...but in the meantime, you might want to start getting caps, they're the currency we use out here if you didn't know." Simms said as he reached into one of his coat pockets and pulled out a small Nuka Cola bottlecap. "Moriarty told me about these when we talked, in fact, he wants me to pay him about one hundred of these to get that info he has." I stated, "Tonight's your lucky night then kid, I happen to know a few folks here who might be willing to give a job or two and pay ya." I turned to fully the the mayor. "Lucy West has been asking around for a few days now, looking for someone to make a delivery for her to nearby town, you'll have to speak to her for the rest of the details. And the owner of our very own Craterside Supply, Moira Brown's been looking for someone to help her with a passion project of sorts. A book I think it was. Again, you'll need to speak to her for more about it." Simms finished.

I felt a tinge of relief hearing about the two jobs, come tomorrow I'd have to find these two women. "Thanks Simms." I thanked Lucas as he shrugged, "Least I can do to help a fish outta water like yourself. Though, if you do ever feel like returning the favor, we could use someone to disarm that bomb in the center of town." Simms chuckled, "I'm sure you Vault Dwellers have all kinds of gimmicks and tricks for that stuff."

And with that, Simms went off to continue patrolling the town, leaving me to watch the sky slowly darken as the sun lowered below the horizon.

' Could I really disarm a bomb? A nuclear bomb no less?' I wondered, I knew Simms was just kidding, but the fact that a inactive nuke sat directly in the center of town, just waiting for the wrong person to come along an arm it didn't sit right with me.

'Come to think of it, there was that manual back in the Vault that I read, and it wasn't too long ago either...' I pondered as I mentally dig through my mind for al lethal I could remember on said manual.