VAULT 106: A DIFFERENT STORY
What if the Capital Wasteland had its own Vault 81? In this one-shot, an overseer with a conscience sabotages the drug delivery system for Vault 106. A century later, the Vault opens up to a new and dangerous world.
-v106-
TO THE OVERSEER OF VAULT 106,
If you are reading this message, your Vault has been sealed due to the nuclear apocalypse. Congratulations! You are to be the head researcher of an exciting new experiment.
Ten days after Vault 106 is sealed, you are to activate the hidden Drug Distribution System (DDS) within the air filtration. The DDS will begin the experiment, and will determine the relative susceptibility of Vault 106's population to influence via psychotropic drugs…
-v106-
Natalia Wong, Overseer of Vault 106, read the rest of the message with a mixture of disbelief and disgust.
The Vaults were a lie. They were never about "saving" anyone from the terrible war that had now destroyed the surface. It was all some sick, twisted experiment.
What do to, though…?
-v106-
Day 3…
"I can't believe it…everything up there is gone."
"What about my mother? Did she make it to a Vault?"
"Why did this happen? Who did this?"
Natalia Wong stepped onto the Overseer's podium and took a deep breath before addressing Vault 106's first ever Community Meeting.
"Thank you for coming, everyone," she began. "I know all of us are shocked, scared, and uncertain about the future. But I'm here to tell you that Vault-Tec has your best interests at heart. We can make our community work down here, but we need to all do our part. To that end, I will explain the nature of the Community Roles each of us will take…
-v106-
Day 9…
She couldn't do it.
The delivery systems were disabled.
-v106-
2091…
"I can't believe you're retiring, Overseer."
"Well, it's been a good run, but I think we need to let the next generation take over."
2175…
"There's no way around it, Overseer."
Overseer Andrew Duran put his head in his hands and sighed, visibly frustrated. "So we're going to have to open the damn Vault."
"Yes, sir."
-v106-
"WE CAN'T!" The resident was clearly terrified.
"We have to," Overseer Duran replied firmly. "The food creation system is broken. We need to start trading with the outside world in order to survive."
"How do we even know there's anything out there?" Another asked.
"Because we've seen people on the external cameras," Andrew replied instantly. "They've even left signs out - 'Have Food To Trade'". We can't be entirely self-sufficient anymore. We need the outside world's help."
The residents argued for many hours, but a vote was held and the Overseer's logic won out.
And so in a cold November day in 2175, the residents of Vault 106 opened the Vault door into an unknown world.
-v106-
Even a century after the nuclear apocalypse, the scouting party had a hard time taking in the devastation. Buildings were hollow shells of themselves, suitable only for shelter against the elements, and barely at that. Trees were brown and dead. And already they had encountered crazed fiends attacking them with little warning.
But they had also found community. A small town just north of the Vault's entrance, centered around a building that had once been known as Kaelyn's Bed and Breakfast. It was here that they would make their first proper contact with the outside world.
"So, what's life like in that Vault?" The bartender asked as she poured one of the scouting party members a drink.
"…safer," the woman from the Vault replied after a moment. "We didn't have to worry about food or water. Well, until recently."
"Yes, I was going to ask about that," the ghoul next to her chimed in. She was still uncomfortable with its presence, but it - he? - seemed nice enough. "I was almost admitted into Vault 106. Does anyone there know an Agnes Faulkner?"
"My grandmother knew her," another scouting party member replied. "She was one of the original Vault residents."
"Agnes was a good woman," the ghoul said. "I miss her still, even after a century."
-v106-
"Got to say, I can't get over how…clean this place is." The Mayor of Kaelyntown, named after the former Bed and Breakfast, made no attempt to hide his envy.
"It works well for us," Overseer Duran replied neutrally. "So we're in agreement?"
"We are," the Mayor replied. "We'll supply Vault 106 with food, and in exchange we get residential rights in the Vault. Your Vault residents are also welcome in Kaelyntown, though I doubt many will take up the offer."
"You'd be surprised. Some of our residents seem to think life can somehow be too easy. They'll enjoy the experience." The Overseer grinned wryly.
The Mayor returned the grin. "I'll see to that personally!"