A/N: Update every Wednesday?

Anyhow, this chapter ended up especially long as well... I swear I don't make a habit of doing this.


02

A Rude Awakening


VII

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Another year goes by…

His son is a proper young man now – 19 years old and fairly independent at this point.

Practically an adult…

The only reason why he's still living with James was that there isn't much space available this year around. The vault is dealing with a slight overpopulation problem…

The biggest problem with the vault's philosophy was indeed their wholesome mission and lasting peace. It really encouraged the idea of bringing more life into the world – that is, to the vault.

But space was limited.

Apparently, the administration had a specific program made for this exact problem, created a few generations ago. It seems to work reliably; it's solved this problem before, so he wasn't particularly worried. It's been in effect for a few months already…

Daniel would just stay with James until a new residence was available and he could bunk with other unmarried friends.

While James would probably be asked to move to a more communal space with other people in another floor – the Overseer's attempt to save space until the population boom diminished a bit with the program…

Half of the vault was allowed to have two kids at most. The other half was only allowed one. These were assigned at random, no exceptions…

The vault-dwellers don't dare make a fuss about it, not wanting to upset this precious soul-thing again…

Just another crisis, wonderful…

But fine, fine.

He's still working as a doctor, and is reasonably stable with the job. Daniel is now working with the weapons' maintenance people, occasionally teaching the kids how to shoot with BB's or actual guns for the slightly older ones, but just generally fixing, cleaning, and tinkering with weapons like a jack-of-all-trades for guns, and sometimes terminals, if he had the time.

…He's healthy, good with sports, gets along well enough with people his age, is gentle with children, is polite to those older, and is an intelligent young man.

So… he wouldn't tolerate staying with his father for much longer.

These dwellers live and breathe individual agency and freedom – even if they are a bit too rigid in their optimistic and positive outlook of it all.

It is good, James supposed…

Daniel liked these things and liked the vault, so he's definitely likely to stay.

James now had to accept that his job raising his boy was… done… And he felt rather alone with this acknowledgment…

What is he supposed to do now? He thought upon realizing it.

…James continues to live passively, dreading the day when Daniel would at last leave, and they would, in a way, go on their separate ways to live their lives…

James was thinking – on and off occasionally as he went about the motions of day-to-day life in the vault – he was thinking about leaving…

Leaving the vault, maybe… Maybe getting back to his old project…?

It's been nearly two decades now… He doubted anything changed, so this idea was kept in the back burner as he went from day to day with his usual routine.

Then… the election is once again fast approaching. Sherri's two terms probably coming to an end this time… Her main opponent was a very well-spoken, previously elected Rep with a good reputation, with a strong Protect platform, liked by most.

The same issues are repeated again – James is as bored as he is tired.

People were always so passionate here… He felt a bit gray in comparison…

James would often find Daniel on their room's terminal, exchanging messages with the Free board.

The mainframe and the network – it was certainly useful for mass-communication, passing information amongst the vault-dwellers as efficiently as they could. Still, the youth, in particular, preferred to use it as a political message board to giggle about.

James didn't like to see Daniel so transfixed for so many hours, laughing at gags that made no sense to James.

He often told him to go meet up with people like a normal human being and not be so much like a robot with radio links communicating in Morse code.

That was usually met with laughs. The youth seems to hear the same complaint often enough that there's an inside joke somewhere in there.

But sometimes…

When Daniel was away, and James had time, he'd access their board and read what they were plotting in their little digital corners – as all parents did – and it…

It turned out to be a pretty enthralling source of information that nurtured that passive curiosity James kept tucked away.

The soul, of course, was their absolute favorite topic.

The Protects had the same obsession, but they mostly spoke directly.

…The way these kids write about this thing, though… It's fascinating in a way…

They truly, genuinely believe this thing is something awaiting freedom, something sentient.

Something living, that can speak, breathe, move. On its own. With no outside influence.

It was something that would have died with the country out of 'stubborn loyalty and protectiveness' when the bombs fell, but was instead forced to sleep and had a vault of armed citizens built around it – their spirits of identity, loyalty, love of country, is the very air it breathes to live, and with those, it can live forever.

…It's not human, it's almost… spiritual…

Truly, like a deity, just as James had always identified it as.

James chalked it up to mere religiosity, as usual. But his interest is peaked… He was curious again…

…What were they really guarding down there…?

For months, James's curiosity was passive.

However, it just built up and up after his son mentioned this in further detail, and now here, he… he wants to know now.

Something pure, clean, and with the potential to live forever.

…Something is afoot there.

So, his old plans and fantasies hatch anew again, nothing else holding them back when this possibly uneventful and lonely future was just over the horizon – his job raising his boy was done, he'd move to another room, spend time with his friends, work for this cause, focus on his new job, and they'd essentially part ways–

It's election night once again.

James admittedly accepted a few drinks from fellow doctors, just to be polite. He was probably not 100% sober, but he was still very functional.

It's easy to find the courage to act with that.

Everyone was busy. Waiting for the results at home or in the atrium, making speeches, partying and celebrating, and all the usual fuss that went on during elections…

James, however, makes his way to the Overseer's office.

People in the vault are so calm and trusting these days… 'Security-Guard' was a job of the minority, not that many in the vault. Guard-duty was so lax it was literally laughable. Too much peace for far too long made this whole place careless…

How lucky that they had the steel walls and door and a literal mountain of rock above them, keeping them so safe.

Then, hacking the Overseer's terminal was just as laughably easy.

The Overseer's Office was a floor above the atrium. It was big and empty, red carpet in some spots, rather fancy, very clean, with a visible upper deck that housed an alluring bookcase, full of pristine books never touched by weather or atomic fire, and James could almost hear the music below this floor.

But no one, not even a guard in sight…

Too calm and too trusting.

James would unfortunately take advantage of that… But that's fine… He already intended to leave anyway…

He took some provisions and left a holotape for Daniel to find at their apartment, so it's fine, all fine…

Now, James sits in front of one of the two main terminals, one just below the deck, lodged on the wall and surrounded by more books, and he's browsing through files. These weren't Sherri's or Tony's files, that's probably kept in the other terminal by the desk…

He had no interest in their work…

This other terminal, however, might just be a standard one, with standard information to be kept for every Overseer to read, possibly with some more interesting information to satiate his curiosity.

In this one, he finds first…

Project 'Nation Preservation'… What…?

…Vault 101, especially commissioned by a great number of US congressmen, senators, the president, private companies…

All to keep something called 'H.t. AFJ' safe in case of nuclear annihilation of the country…

Now, what does that stand for…? James's not sure, but whatever it is, they assumed it to be of 'paramount importance' if the United States were to rise and reconquer the land…

…Maybe a super-weapon of sorts…? That was a dangerous thought…

Or was it a… a kind of technology that would allow the cleansing of an irradiated wasteland for future prosperity…?

This might be the 'soul' he's heard non-stop about for two decades. Could it be something that miraculous…?

…That last guess was his desperate wish speaking – if that were the case… he'd–

Well…

Whatever it is, it has lain dormant deep within the vault for 200 years…

He didn't know where the religious beliefs sprung up from, though…

This thing is simply described as something important that needs to be preserved…

He's not sure what to think of it… But it's interesting enough…

Feeling adventurous and curious, he continues browsing, until he runs across a file on something interesting.

A notice from a man named Stanislaus Braun.

About a G.E.C.K.

The Garden of Eden Creation Kit…

Oh…?

It takes little reading for him to lean closer and for his eyes to widen in shock. He couldn't even believe it as he read about it…

A terraforming device module, capable of creating life, out of lifelessness.

…This vault had something so blatantly useful and precious just sitting under it…?!

This… This thing! It could save Project Purity…! Catherine–!

James stared in shock, then looked around the room. He could go down there and get it, right now, then leave through the Emergency tunnels – leads right to the entrance, he knows it does. Every vault has it.

If he found this thing, he could take it and leave with something actually useful in hands!

Leave with the answer to such an old problem…! He could, finally, save the Capital Wasteland…!

In a moment of sheer recklessness, he turns back to the terminal, where he opens the chamber, the forbidden place he wasn't supposed to ever go near, and he stands away from the terminal, walking around as an uncarpeted spot on the floor of the room rises up.

He didn't want to waste any time, in case it alerted someone – time to move, this was it…! He was honestly giddy…!

Going down the stairs, it's dark. He follows a hallway for at least 10 seconds, and then finds an elevator. It opens instantly when he pressed the button, and looking inside, it only seems to lead down.

Looking out, he sees the rather wide stairs that circle the elevator, going down as well.

Humming, James tosses caution out the metaphorical window, going down in the elevator. It shakes and whines ever-so-slightly on the way. He's gone this far already… Might as well keep going.

The trepidation was nerve-wracking – if he was found here, there's no doubt they'd follow up on their warning and kill him on the spot – because he's not supposed to be here…!

Daniel would be okay, though – these people were too attached to their old-world values to punish the son for what the father did…

But he had to do this. This was all James had left…

A possibility.

The elevator's doors open with a ding – and light floods from the corridor beyond.

It's a bluish glow, and James frowns as he walks forth – doors close behind him as he follows the shorter hallway until he's out.

He's on a large suspended and metallic platform, from where he could see the entire room around him. It's a grand and dark room, the ceiling is high above, and the space is expansive.

Just how far down did he go?!

There were probably many connected rooms that he could follow in his search…

It's a giant lab of sorts…?

At the center, the blue glow was pretty intense, and it emanated from a big cylindrical tank from floor to ceiling, glowing with this bluish light. Large cables connected the heavy metal platform beneath the container to big devices in rows around it, each with a bigger feeding cable stretching out through the place towards the walls…

Was this… the soul…?

James stares, wide-eyed, then walks down the stairs of the platform with some caution, approaching the tall glass container. The platform it stood on reached his chest, and he could reach the glass.

It was big… But he couldn't see anything inside…

He hesitantly rubbed a hand on the glass, noting that it was foggy due to heat… What in the world is he looking at…?

Some strange pre-war marvel? A source of energy?

Inwardly in his mind, he knew he was pressed for time, but he couldn't ignore his fascination – it was drawing his attention immensely and with such gripping force – he wished he knew what was inside, and what this water-like fluid was…

Why was it so warm?

Why did it glow so much…?

It was quite beautiful, and the Pip-Boy couldn't detect any radiation…

He rubbed his entire forearm to clear off the fog, then leaned close, hands next to his eyes– he still couldn't see much of anything…

He backs off with a silent sigh, then turns from side to side, trying to see where to go next.

Whatever that thing was, it was precious to the people of this vault – and hopefully harmless, as it's been there for 200 years…

Look for a storage room of some kind instead… So he walks off, lifting a leg over a cable to move past it without stepping on anything.

He couldn't damage anything here…

There's a second floor that circles the room, with other rooms he could check, but he sticks to the bottom first. James walks until he finds a door with a promising sign, Lab 1. Well, his mistake, this here was the lab… A lab…

He rummages around like a common scavenger, looking for anything interesting or useful. He finds tools and glass cupboards, with small vials of that same glowing blue liquid.

What in the world…

It wasn't what he was looking for. But he takes one vial, merely curious about its proprieties… He'll see about it some other day. And so, he goes to Lab 2 right after.

Different findings. Same result.

James speeds up his pace. Lab 3 and 4, same damn thing.

Then, Lab 5.

Bingo.

A round stand, caged, with a case sitting neatly inside, secured, untouched. James looks at it in wonder, breathing in.

James's breath hitches– My God… Catherine, it was right here…! This whole time…!

Okay… A terminal next to it, he could probably unlock it fast enough–

Except he couldn't.

He couldn't…!

James grits his teeth as he tries to make sense of the coding. Just what in the world is this madness…?!

It's arguably the most complicated thing he's ever laid eyes upon. It was–

It was frustrating to look at. He had no idea what to do about it. So, James starts to make half-hazardous guesses on how to crack the code. He knew terminals locked after a certain number of blunders, so, if he reached his limit, he'd just reset the terminal and try again.

Easy and old trick, scavengers with this sort of knowledge picked up on it eventually…

James clicks his tongue as he misses his last safe attempt, and presses the power button for a few seconds–

The terminal remains on, but the symbols and keys disappear, only leaving a green screen. James blinks in confusion.

Then–

Ha Ha.

Time to die, commie scum.

Yours truly, China's worst fucking nightmare.

His eyes widen. What the–?

James jumps when an alarm blares in his ears, along with flashes of red emergency lights– his old Wasteland reflexes kick in and he runs for cover at the edge of the door, looking out for a safe way to escape–

A trap?!

He hears the familiar but ominous metallic creaking of machinery through the booming alarm. Maybe a sentry-bot was on the way…! James had to get the hell out of this place, or he'd be gunned down like a rat…!

Not able to afford waiting– having heard the whirring sound coming from somewhere upstairs, James runs out and follows the first hallway with Exit on a sign above, following what directions he could to escape–

He does find one, an elevator, having remained untouched so far, it doesn't stall to open, and James looks back as he enters it, seeing the tell-tale red light of a sentry-bot in sight at the end of the hallway just as the door closes–

He had pressed himself against the wall just as it showed up.

James breathes in relief, sagging against the wall behind as the alarm becomes muffled. Fuck…

What a cheeky and murderous message, from someone rather eager to assume his allegiance… Definitely a pre-war trap… That was the most complicated coding he'd ever seen in his life…

James hits the wall behind with his fist in frustration. Dammit…! He lost his chance to get the G.E.C.K. to it…

With a frustrated sigh, he straightened himself. At least he had a lead on how to move forward with the project. He'd have to find another case, somehow… Maybe in another vault?

Either way, with all that ruckus, he's sure the whole vault could be aware of the breach by now… James had to leave, immediately.

Daniel would be okay… James didn't break or mess with their soul-thing. It was just security acting up down there, no doubt designed to protect it…

With that in mind, as the elevator stops and the doors open, he follows the dark, metallic corridors, just as it leads him to the vault entrance, like he'd expected…

It was big, just like the rest of the vault, but not as clean – the dwellers just didn't really tend to this place as much.

His exit leads to a side-room full of bulky processors and some terminals, and the doorway leads into the broader corridor leading straight to the great steel door he'd once walked through, nearly 20 years ago…

No guards this time, carelessly left alone due to the election proceedings.

It's nostalgic to be here again, and James crosses the room to reach the main terminals that operated the door.

The coding is, thankfully, not as nightmarish as the last one, and he pulls the cord from the Pip-Boy, quickly connecting to the panel next to it, letting it work its magic, before he pulls the main lever.

Another loud alarm with a flashing, orange light. James waits impatiently for it to screech open, looking back, almost expecting security to show up, guns blazing and out for his blood.

No doubt, everyone would feel so terribly betrayed by what he did…

That's fine… He didn't care if they wanted to shoot him now. He doubted anyone would leave the vault just to find him out there.

The steel door rolls open with a rusty grinding, so rarely oiled and used, and James pulls the lever back, beginning the process of closing it and then running out and across the catwalk towards the door– he sees the metal door busted open, just like he remembered, and the outside was in sight.

He turns back, watching the great steel door slide back in place as he speedwalks, before turning away and leaving the cave.

The broken door whinges when he walks over it, and he ignores the skeletons.

It's night out, thankfully – he wouldn't be blinded by daylight today. It still makes his eyes burn, and he squints once outside, but he was okay. He could see the remains of the pre-war city in the distance, and he could also see Megaton's great walls much closer.

…The Wasteland's desert-like and dead visage hasn't changed one bit, and James felt partially nostalgic…

But… oh, well…

By the time anyone noticed his absence, James would be long gone, while his son would remain safe. That's good enough for him.

Now…

It's time to get back to Project Purity.

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Unbeknownst to James Cross, old but persistent interests led to the excavation of cavernous paths just beyond the walls of Vault 101.

Time and tragedy buried these interests, and deadly creatures of the Wasteland claimed it as their home.

The noise only rouses their curiosity, and no one hears the roars just yet…

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VIII

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Earlier

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Daniel wasn't exactly politically active.

Every citizen of age, such as himself – been a year now – was considered active, but his passions never ran hot like many of his fellow citizens during election rounds.

His temperament was more like the elders, something his few friends never failed to remind him of.

Those who bothered talking to him that often did, that is.

Despite that, he couldn't help but feel bummed out.

This was his first-time voting, and the candidate he voted for didn't win. Jason Reed was a Free guy, and although pretty popular, it wasn't enough to swing things on this particular wedge issue.

Usually, betting on the Free proposition was more than enough to make a candidate lose, so Frees were rare candidates, anyway…

Most citizens didn't trust them with power. Too risky.

So Daniel really shouldn't be surprised by these results. In fact, he preferred to keep his allegiances to himself on this matter… Only two people knew he voted for the Free candidate…

Now, he sat by the stairs in the atrium, looking down at the gathering of Frees exchanging solemn pats on the back for consolation at the center.

Not this time, guys.

Try again in four years, they were told.

"Alright, alright. The election is over." Mr. Reed was saying. "Disagreements and arguments are a healthy, spiritual exercise to the Soul, but like any physical exertion for us, it cannot last too long before this begins to stress and strain it. So, remember to be good-sports and celebrate with the opposition upstairs."

Right? No hard feelings. No more arguing. At least not until the next election.

Daniel nods with an exhale and stands, stretching his arms just as Shirley walks up the stairs towards him.

He takes note of her slumped shoulders. "How are you feeling?" He asks.

She sighs in a rather content manner, feigning extra disappointment on top of it. "A little blue, but did you see the numbers? A lot better than last cycle! We might actually see a Free Overseer within our lifetime!" She grinned.

"I guess a 2% increase is a lot for us." Daniel taps his chin, walking a step up and gesturing for his friend to follow. "Maybe when we're old."

Shirley perked up. "Oh, it'll be a dream come true! You feel this warm buzz?" She raises both hands wide before clasping them together, prancing past him. "The Soul must be happy with another successful election cycle gearing towards its freedom!"

Daniel chuckles, leaning on the railing. "I think it's just happy everyone's getting along."

"That too, of course!"

The deck above on this half of the atrium was a cafeteria, a small space, not made for that many people, where citizens could crowd in tables and enjoy the food prepared and delivered neatly by Mr. Handy robots and other working citizens who deigned to volunteer and work extra during Election Night.

Their candidate and his staff gather to clean up the atrium, and as asked, the Frees leave to join their families and friends of the opposition to celebrate another round of the democratic process.

It's a time of cleansing.

No resentment, bitterness, or anger was to be left in the spirit now that it was over.

Unfortunately, Daniel had no one to do that with…

His father never quite bothered with any of this. Maybe it was just because he couldn't vote, but Daniel still wished he would show some enthusiasm for it…

It was such a big deal for everyone… Now it was a big deal for Daniel too.

But Dad preferred to stay in his office, even though nobody other than volunteers was really working today…

Daniel sighs and asks Bishop, the Mr. Handy, for a cup of noodles and a Nuka. Shirley went to reconcile with her fiercely Protect family, and his other ex-classmates also went to join and make amends with their Protect friends and families on their home floors.

Most of the election event is televised, as the atrium couldn't hold everyone, so only a few dozen citizens were left on this floor at this point.

Everyone does their best to hug it out and have a laugh now, even if by forcing it, while the elected Overseer goes to visit each residential floor to talk to everyone he could greet.

Daniel was alone with his food, though, so he leaves the cafeteria, going down the hall until he reaches the elevator, then quietly waiting inside, greeting and handling small talk with anyone who joined him on the way, until it reaches the fifth residential floor.

It opens to the common area and the stairs, illuminated by calm lights, with the multitude of residential rooms spanning the two floors. The music from the radio station is at a low, non-obstructive volume, playing a popular hit from this year's record.

There's animated chatter everywhere.

Some doors left open, their residents chatting a little too loudly inside, or leaning on the railing above with a neighbor for a smoke, or talking from their seats by the tables over some snacks, or from children playing.

The floor is certainly a little lively, as most people tend to watch the elections' results from their television sets or hear it on their radios.

Daniel dodges some kids running by with a kickball, careful not to spill the food.

As soon as he reaches his room – Residency #548, in the far corner of the floor – he also greets his immediate neighbor, an old lady sweeping dust off the panel flooring in front of her door.

"Oh, hello, how was your first vote, dearie?" Her voice is soft and high-pitched.

"Felt great to participate, thanks for asking, Mrs. Bridget!" Daniel grin in return, although he doesn't stop to chat– it would never end if he did, Mrs. Bridget was a real chatterbox who missed her late husband and her kids…

The door is closed behind him, and Daniel sighs, placing his now cool dinner on the table behind the couch of the small living room.

Home sweet home.

But Dad is not there. Daniel hums and sits by the small dinner table, slurping noodles with a fork in silence. It's in just a few seconds that he blinks and notices the holotape.

He raises an eyebrow. Was it there when he left this morning? With a shrug, he picks it up and inserts it in the Pip-Boy, then continued to eat.

It's his Dad's voice that greets him.

"Hey, son… I… I don't really know how to tell you this. I hope you'll understand, but I know you might be angry." Daniel tilted his head in confusion. "I thought about it for a long time, but in the end, I decided it was best for you not to know–"

…Not know what? He frowned as he took a sip of Nuka-Cola as well.

"Maybe you know already, but if not– I… I've decided to leave the vault."

He nearly chokes, covering his mouth and nose with a hand.

"It was something I needed to do. You're an adult now. You're ready to be on your own. Maybe someday, things will change and we can see each other again. I can't tell you why I left or where I'm going. I don't want you to follow me, although I'm honestly not sure you actually would… I'm sure life in the vault is good enough, you'll probably remain there, safe, correct…? Just knowing that will be enough to keep me going. Goodbye, I love you."

What the f–

Daniel pushed his food aside and stood– Dad left?! But why?!

Wait, did he actually leave, or was he on the way out? No one came by to tell him– and why wouldn't he just talk to him before leaving?!

Daniel curses internally and turns to run out, towards the elevator.

"Whoa, hey! What's the hurry, kid?" An adult tries to question him for the odd behavior, naturally.

Daniel ignores it partially. The elevator opens, and he turns back as he rushed in. "The medbay, to find my dad! Sorry!" He closes the door.

He waits impatiently for the right floor to arrive, the ride thankfully uninterrupted. When the doors open, he runs out across the halls towards the medbay.

The door is already open, and when running in, Daniel looks back and forth for a familiar face, ignoring the stares of the few nurses on active duty on Election Night.

"Young Cross?" Dr. Hill wonders from across the room, approaching him. "What happened?"

Daniel is looking around, then turning to find the office Dad was stationed at. "It's Dad, he said he'd leave the Vault, I-I thought I could catch up to him here…!" But as he peers inside the office, its door left open, he finds no one…

"Wait, what?! Dr. Cross left?!" He hears Dr. Hill ask in shock. "How–"

"He just left a holotape! I don't know why he–!"

His panic is brusquely interrupted by a loud alarm – it buzzes noisily, just enough to startle everyone.

Daniel looks up, alert. "…What's going on?"

"I don't know…" Dr. Hill frowns and walks back to the front door, looking out into the hallway. He closes the door, before turning to the nurses. "Please check on the patients here, keep them calm." With that said, and the nurses moving to obey, Dr. Hill goes to his office with hurried steps.

Daniel isn't sure what to do now, so he ruffles his hair in apprehension, pacing in circles to think.

The alarm still blares, it quickly grates on his nerves.

But alright, so… If Dad's not here, then–

"Alert." A cool and feminine automated voice speaks suddenly. "Stasis System disconnect. Contact Vault-Tec administration–"

The alarm stops, although the emergency lights are still flashing in the hallway. "Attention, citizens, t-this is your Overseer." The newly-elected leader speaks through the radio– was he at the radio station? "Please, remain within your homes, keep your doors locked and be armed and hidden…!"

Daniel stares at it, lips parting, before the words process properly, barely taking note of how uncommonly nervous the man sounded.

"I've been informed that the Forbidden Chamber's entrance was opened–"

His eyes widen, he hears gasps from the rooms left open– and something clatters on the ground from Dr. Hill's office, followed by an incredulous curse.

The Chamber?! Where the Soul rested?!

Then he looks at his Pip-Boy.

Coincidence…? He hoped so…

"There was– Underground, where the Vault's walls meet the earth– there was a breach, s-something monstrous dug through the wall, it's big and it has hurt almost fatally some of the security I sent to investigate…! A-And it seems to have also broken things there– the Soul– I don't know what's happened to it yet, I intend to see to it personally– everyone, please, remain armed and hidden behind locked doors, I repeat, stay armed and hidden–"

Daniel runs to the terminal in Dad's office– shit, fuck, locked– but he knows coding well enough to hack, okay– goddamn it, how he hoped Dad had nothing to do with this!

It's easy, only delayed by his own frustration making him press the wrong keys and hiss angrily.

He accesses the public network, tapping his foot as he waits for it to connect so he could read something – he types his way into the first server and he's immediately met with a barrage of messages, overwriting the latter ones and almost becoming unreadable.

From all the incomplete, panicked messages he managed to get–

There was a monster in the atrium?!

But Shirley was there – along with how many more…?!

And what about Dad? Did he really leave the Vault? Right now?

Surely… Dad leaving had nothing to do with this, right…? He never seemed overtly curious about the Soul, why would he do this?! No, no, it was something else…!

He could hear the Overseer, through the intercoms this time. "Those things– they've damaged the mainframe– the stasis chambers below, terminal's not responding anymore–" His voice pitched. "It should be responding– but I can't tell what's happened down there!"

The medbay's door opens, Daniel leaves the desk to run to the office's door, seeing two security guards carrying– a guard bleeding heavily– "Dr. Hill?!" Daniel calls, running out to the other office.

The head-doctor is quick to see what the problem was and decide on a course of action for treatment, ordering the guards what to do and where to go, calling a nurse to help him in the emergency room.

And Daniel just tries to stay out of the way as they disappear further inside, glancing anxiously at the bloodstains on the floor, before turning to Dad's office again.

One guard sounds viciously furious, Daniel could still hear him from where he stood– "Someone's gone inside the Chamber, I– they've either left through the tunnels and up to the Vault Door or they're dead in there–!"

The intercom flares to life again, muffling whatever else the guard had to shout.

"Attention– I've sent what security I had available to the armory so they can arm up to deal with a second monster heading to the atrium, and I'm going with my own personal officers down the Chamber to – to see if the Soul is still safe – we don't know yet, but the system isn't responding. Please stand by, stay safe, don't take any risks–"

Then hears from the guard in the emergency room–

"Dr. Cross left…?!"

Then the raspier, second one– "H-How do you know?"

"Left when?!" Daniel cringed, then the only fully uninjured guard appears around the corner. "You there, Dr. Cross's kid! What's going on?!"

Daniel rubs his face in a mix of dread and frustration. "I-I found a holotape in our room, he said he was leaving in it, but didn't say why or when…?! I thought I could catch up to him here, I–"

The guard looked away with a sneer. "No one asked to leave…! He…" He stopped, then gritted his teeth. "He's the one who opened the Chamber…!"

…Dad really went down there… Why…?! Was he trying to do something to the Soul? Did he just want to see it? Or was he trying to leave without anyone knowing? Was he dead…?!

The few nurses present in the medbay were peering outside their patient's rooms, eyes are on Daniel now. He felt the stinging stares – the silent questions just waiting to form an accusation.

Daniel tried not to wither with its weight, instead returning to the office and the terminal to read– and hide.

…The room where everyone seemed to have holed up in was the lounge right next to the cafeteria, along with the pantries and other enclosed rooms with public terminals below – he could read their updates on what they could see through the window they were peeking through.

It didn't look pretty– he was getting wild statements from whoever was tasked with writing things.

A 'lizard-monster with huge claws' wandering around the atrium? What the hell…

Daniel is messaging back, hoping the people hiding by a terminal would read– "Is anyone injured up there? Please respond."

He quickly gets a response; it flashes at the top– "My father is bleeding. We escaped when Bishop interfered. We're in the atrium's lounge room, the upper-left floor. Need STIMS and BANDAGES."

Daniel nods rapidly– okay, he'll do this, then. He stands and looks around Dad's office to grab what he could– atomizing the Stimpaks and bandages he found into his Pip-Boy. The stock is oddly devoid of most of its contents.

He really needs to go down there, but how could he avoid getting caught by that thing?

It seems the injured officer had woken up, effectively distracting everyone from Daniel as they fussed to hear what he had to say.

Blood loss, there was a terribly vicious gash across his chest and abdomen, as if something had tried to cleave him in half. The security's armor no doubt saved his life…

But was it really a 'lizard-monster'?! Daniel runs to peer inside the room with the others.

"D-Down there–" His voice shook as he tried to stand from the bed, only to be stopped by Dr. Hill– "We went to check when we found the Chamber open– I-I saw it, I was near it, that thing swung at us and hit the–" He clutches his head. "There was water leaking out, a lot of it, it glowed so much–!" He breathed, already feeling exhausted just from speaking. "There was a sentry-bot, it attacked that thing, huge lizard– we wouldn't have made it without it there… B-But I think it blew up after we left– w-we heard it…!"

"The whole floor shook…! It might have broken something… I can't believe it–"

Oh, no… Daniel bit his lip, leaning further inside. "Was Dr. Cross down there…?" He asked up suddenly.

The guard looked at him, then frowned. "No." His tone was hard. "Was he the one…? We didn't see that… that guy." He turned away, teeth gritting and visible as he clutches his side. "There was just a hole on the wall further in, it led to a cave, a-and those things came from there, I think… We didn't have the time to check the tunnels…"

"…What about the Chamber?" "W-Was the Soul inside?" "What was it…?" More questions stumbled onto each other at the same time from the nurses.

The guard sighed and shook his head. "There was… this big tank, it shone blue, but the glass was so foggy– I couldn't see anything…"

Nervous whispers flood the air right away. The automated warning from earlier– stasis chamber… Was that what it meant?

Daniel curses to himself. He grabs the guard's dropped 10mm pistol and a fallen mag, startling everyone crowding outside the room, then he runs out–

Except he's pulled back by the forearm, Dr. Hill just behind. "Where do you think you're going?!" He demands.

Daniel's expression closes off. "They need medical supplies and reinforcements up there."

"You're a kid!"

"I'm also tougher than others my age due to mutation, remember?" Daniel pulls his arm from the grip. "If Dad caused this, then I want to help fix it."

"…Native in spirit, aren't you…?" Dr. Hill frowns with an exhale. "But we still have a trained guard who could do this here."

"Only one uninjured." Daniel dismissed. "The medbay has sick elders and you're the only qualified doctor. He should guard this place. I'll sneak up there because someone needs Stims now." Daniel relays the situation quickly, before leaving. "Wish me luck!"

No one tries to stop him this time, although he hears a 'Stay safe!' from the medbay.

He reaches the elevator quickly enough–

The ride up is tense as he reaches the right floor – Daniel's first objective is to enter the room where everyone was hiding.

People don't have the habit of carrying arms and medical supplies everywhere, and no one was expecting this; they had nothing to use but the supplies he was carrying now.

He keeps low and looks out the hallway, seeing the wide cafeteria deserted, plates and cups strewn about on the floor, abandoned in a hurry– and an ominous set of footsteps somewhere below, in the atrium– something heavy breathing, sniffing.

If it has a sense of smell, then it would detect him sooner or later. He couldn't stay still.

Daniel sneaks across the cafeteria as quietly and quickly as he could, just in time to hear something being broken to pieces below– an angry, animalistic snarl following–

A cold shiver runs up his spine– the lounge door is just ahead, he sees someone peeking through the blinds on the window– they make eye contact and Daniel turns to the door, pointing to it as the noise below grows louder, steps moving–

It heard him–?!

Whoever he saw thankfully listened to his nonverbal cue. The door is opened, and Daniel rushes in– the door closes right after, with him heaving to handle his wild heartbeats.

But the floor trembles ever so slightly– the beast might be investigating now–

The room was filled and overcrowded, Daniel turns to everyone, tiptoeing and looking back at the window. "Who's hurt?" He whispers, turning back to them.

Those hiding under tables, or behind the billiard table, or behind bookshelves and couches– no one could make too much sound, so the furniture wasn't really dragged and thrown at the door yet.

Daniel sees a hand raising and he quietly goes to them, a small group huddled around someone whose wound was covered with someone's ripped vault dress.

Daniel had a certain amount of medical training, a little more than usual for people his age– courtesy of his runaway dad– so he materializes the supplies and sets to work on the unconscious citizen.

"Did– Did anyone die out there…?"

"…No, Bishop went to fight it and kept it distracted for a minute or so… Pretty much saved us…" One said.

So the old robot was probably destroyed…

The mood in the room is dark as people continue to mutter. "How did those things get in…?" "They came from the Chamber below…?" "Why?" "Snyder said they came from a cave–" "A breach through the wall–?" "Breach…?" "Keep quiet…! That thing will hear us…!" "It can't hear us…" "Just whispers through the metal wall, how could it…?!" "What if it can smell us?" "It would've found us by now…!"

Daniel did what he could, having cleaned the wound, administered two Stimpaks, and dressed the wound with the remaining bandages. Okay, as long as they didn't need to stay here for more than a day, things would be okay…

Once the emergency is taken care of, he reassures the family and turns to Shirley by one of the terminals, although he doesn't see her family. She had been staring as he worked, crouched by the device, but mostly focused on the screen, occasionally lifting her head to peek through the window.

She turns to him fully when he approaches. "Danny, thank goodness… I'm glad you're okay…" She sighs.

Daniel nods. "How long has that thing been there?" He wondered, jumping right to the issue.

"Some 8 minutes, I think… It just won't leave, we think it might be eating the leftovers, but…"

"Maybe it's still looking for us…" Someone nearby whispers. It's followed by– "Be quiet until we get the all-clear…!" "Where are the officers from the armory…?" "They're not coming–" "Even armed, you really think they can take on that monster…?!"

Shirley turns to Daniel. "There's a second monster, I think they got held up…"

"So, we're stuck here…" "They're dead…!" "Oh, Soul, please save us…" "What if these things killed it…?!" "Don't say that…!" "It can't 'die', dumbass…!" "So you say…! How would you know…?!"

Daniel winces. He doesn't dare look at anyone's eyes.

What if the Soul does die…?! If Dad did this and it kills it, they– well, for one, Daniel would definitely be kicked out… It's the thing their ancestors have been guarding for generations–!

How could Dad do this?!

"I-It's coming up the stairs…!" Shirley whispers in fright, ducking out of sight.

Everyone stays still, absolutely silent, Daniel ducks under the window and listens closely as well.

His eyes meet Shirley's as they feel its weight moving about just beyond the door– he hears things on the table being moved as it sniffed around the floor– did it catch their scent?

If so, what if it could pry their door open– it sounded so heavy– no one moves.

Daniel gulps– and it sounds so loud– the thing outside does a sudden move– it makes him flinch– did it hear him somehow…?!

But… it seems to move away… turn away, the sounds not getting any closer.

Daniel feels such a strong, itching need to look– something's off– and before he knew it, he's peeking through the window.

"Who–" He's not the one who mutters because he's not the only one who peeks.

The lizard's eyes aren't what greets him beyond the glass– he sees its leathery and bony spine and tail– a bit taller than an adult man– short, pointy horns– sharp claws and sharp teeth, turned towards someone–curiosity seemingly stalling the creature's attack on–

A person?!

Daniel gasps– he hears the same from others who saw it– but his focus turns solely to the person–long blond hair, vault suit–man?– who now stood dangerously close to the beast– he seems to be armed but he's only staring as it huffed and sniffed a new meal– sniffed so close it could easily bite his head off–

Daniel's eyes widened– for a moment, sound was all gone, blood rushing and vision narrowing with a fit of sudden anger.

He'll get killed!

It lifts up an uncannily human-like limb to slash downwards–

Daniel doesn't understand the immediate fright and rage that gripped him and the intense reaction that followed– opening the door and running past it–

Barely hearing voices behind– protests? He doesn't even know–

Gripping the pistol's handle as he gritted his teeth and emptied the magazine on its back and skull before he was even properly aware of his own actions–

All 12 shots…! And it barely staggers– his gun clicked, out of bullets–

The speed and ferocity with which the man-sized lizard turns to pounce startles him– what the fuck did he do?! Why did he leave the room like this?!

Daniel backs away and falls on his back as it gets excessively close and roars straight at his frightened face– he'll really die now

Something hits its ugly snout, knocking it away from him– Daniel is still frozen, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling– gripping the empty gun–

What's– a kick–?!

And there's–

In front of him– the long-haired man with a knife and a familiar riot-shotgun in-between him and the beast– it snarled loudly jumping forth to attack–

It's just within the second he looked– things happened so fast– his eyes widened as the beast staggered away from a buckshot to its face just as it rushed too close–

The man himself sways dizzily for a second with the recoil– the monster somehow wasn't dead, lifting a clawed paw to its bleeding face–

It doesn't recover in time to dodge as the man flips the shotgun and bashes it across the face so harshly the weapon broke to pieces, making the monster back away even further as the man approached as if he had the advantage–

The beast slashes into its attacker wildly and defensively, in a blink of an eye–

And the man had already dodged under it before Daniel even processed the movement– a knife comes up and digs straight into its neck, slashing sideways right after and spattering blood onto the floor as it howls–

The man backs off as it stumbles with its slashed neck, smearing blood everywhere until it drops and stops.

Daniel watched, utterly shocked, barely noticing all the other crowded citizens who had ventured out of the safety of their hideout, openly gaping and wide-eyed.

The bloodied knife hits the tiled floor with a loud clink. The stranger steps back further, looking at it with a tired posture.

Daniel watched, total silence around him, still in shock.

A stranger, with brilliant gold-colored long hair and odd vault-suit, dripping water–?

He just killed a monster almost a head taller than him with a buckshot, a hard whack with the gun, and a knife.

.

It was a widespread feeling they all felt. They didn't know who this person was, but Daniel felt so sure…

He looked familiar to everyone.

.

.

.


A/N: Once upon a New Game, I left the vault and immediately went exploring behind it. Megaton was still in sight when a Deathclaw torn me to shreds. The end.

I don't know what happened or why it was there. Might have been a mod, honestly. I'm not actually sure. But either way, that inspired this. :)

So, things I do have an actual answer for:
- Deathclaws around vault 101, why they were there, and why they hesitate and not attack as quickly.
- America-loving dwellers eating noddles on a celebratory event.

Oh well. This story has slow build-up, btw. There's a lot to cover.