I wake up naturally, I think to myself, "huh...no nightmare tonight." I look out the window and I have a clear view of the sunrise. i smile.

Hannah is standing at the bottom of the stairs. "I don't think I've ever seen you smile before."

I look at her, "Don't have much to smile about these days. I just used to get up early all the time to watch the sunrise with...with Sarah. It became an every-day thing for a while. then i got busy with work...then..."

She nods, "I understand. would you like to be alone?"

I shake my head. "Nah, we got to get ready to go anyway." I get up and I look in my backpack to make sure I'm not running low on supplies. "We're going to need to stock up on some food before we leave."

She nods, "There is a Mr. Handy in town that is a vendor at a general store."

I close my backpack and I holster my Glock 19. I pick up my hunting rifle that was sitting upright beside the door. "Get packed and ready. I'll hit up the general store and pack food for both of us. you should meet me there and stock up on ammo. See you in a bit."

I walk out the door to see a few people and brotherhood soldiers starting their day-to-day lives. I walk down to where the Mr. Handy is he looks at me and addresses me in that British accent. "Goodmorning Sir! Welcome to Harper's Ferry General Goods.

I look at him "hey, I need to stock up on food and ammo" the Mr. Handy points me to the back of the store. "Thanks."

He beems back at me enthusiastically. "Of course sir!"

I go to where he pointed and I start to stock up on food for both me and Hannah for at least the next week. I also stock up on .308 rounds and 9mm rounds for my weapons. I bring the stuff up to the counter where a human now stands. "Hey, all this along with a couple packs of smokes please."

He grabs a couple packs of cigarettes. "That'll be..." he looks at the stuff and checks up on the prices. "114 caps."

I sigh, "114!? Damn man, you're killing me."

He raises his hands, "I didnt set the prices man, you got a complaint take it up with those assholes in the brotherhood of stupid."

I nod. "I get it man. Take it easy." I hand him the caps and I wait outside the store for Hannah. I only got odd looks from a few people before Hannah showed up a few minutes later. I say, "hurry up. We gotta get a move on."

She nods and goes to stock up on ammo for her laser rifle and colt. She comes back out. "Alright, let's go."

I nod and she leads the way out of town. We travel until It starts to get dark. I see an old abandoned shack that looks big enough for us. "Over there. We can stop at that shack for the night." Hannah nods and we head over to the shack. I lay out my bed roll and I set up a fire just outside the door of the shack.

Hannah sets up her bed roll next to mine. "So... how long has it been since your vault opened?"

I sit back after lighting the fire. "A week, maybe a few days more than that."

She lays down, "what do you think of it so far? Way different than the world you left behind right?"

I simply nod before speaking again. "I guess...the first time I saw people, it filled me with hope. Hope that, maybe if others found a way to survive out here. Surely I can too."

She nods. I hand her some canned pork n beans. "Here, dinner time." I get one for myself. "I got a question."

She looks at me. "Shoot"

I say, "Why place your faith in the brotherhood of steel?"

She rolls her eyes. "Well, nowadays, I find myself questioning that faith. But, back when I first joined, their objective was so pure. 'Collect old tech for the betterment of what's left of mankind.' It was something that I could get behind. But, as we grew. It became more and more apparent that it was just a mad grab for power. I've been thinking for breaking ties with them for a while now."

I nod. "I dont know if that's the answer. Back before the bombs, if we didnt like what the government was doing, we could just vote them out of office. But, what you can do, is raise yourself to the highest rank you can. Then you can influence behavior and decisions. Plus, safety in numbers and all that."

She looks at me. "Safety in numbers? You had been surviving out here for a good few days just fine before we met. And you were on your own."

I look back at her. "Ever since I left home, I have been preparing myself mentally for having to survive alone out here. I guess I just got good at it." She nods and I say, "Get some sleep, We'll set off at first light."