"The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar."

Julia sat down, leaned her head against the stone cliff, and rested. Toggling her Pip-Boy, she activated Dad's recording, and let his smooth voice wash over her bruised psyche.

"Hold on, Jonas, I need to record this first.

I don't really know how to tell you this. I hope you'll understand eventually, but I know you might be angry. Please don't burn down the Vault, that would be dreadfully unproductive. The truth of the matter is.. you don't need me anymore. And there are duties that I've left untended for far too long - important ones. By now you've likely figured out that neither of us were born in the Vault. I made a deal with the Overseer when you were very young - I hoped to establish a place where you could grow up safely. A place where you could learn and prosper, with your main concerns being chores and homework, and your occasionally grumpy old dad. So, in exchange for my services as Vault physician, you and I were added to the Vault population. Shortly thereafter, the Overseer sealed the Vault, cut off contact with the outside, and forbade anyone to even hint that it had ever been otherwise. I didn't like having to lie to you about something like that - I still don't. But it was the price of safety, and of our livelihood, and I would pay it twice over if I had to. Now, you're a grown adult. You have ties of your own to the Vault, and a job, as unorthodox as it is. And what I left behind out there.. it's too important to simply let wither away.

Now, if course at this point, you're burning with curiosity. I've been unbelievably vague, and you're already imagining things that I could have been involved in. And the simple truth is, you would find it fascinating. Even more so if you knew what it was. I admit this freely so that what I say next has more weight to it.

You should avoid becoming involved with it, and would likely regret leaving the Vault. There is very little out in the world but death and radiation, and radroaches are perhaps the least of the hazards of this world. I myself am committing a foolish act by venturing back out into the wasteland, and it will likely result in my death. I wanted better for you, my only daughter. To live free of the dangers of radioactivity and murder that is life out in the world. I beg you, resist the temptation to come find me and stay home. Take a long drink of water, and remember me fondly.

Goodbye. I love you!"

The recording switched off with a quiet electronic beep.

He probably knew that wouldn't work, she mused. but I suppose he did have to try.

Julia stayed put for a long time as the roiling emotions of the past day sank in. Grief was processed, pain packaged, and regrets dealt with. By the time she was ready to face he outward world again, the rising sun was painting the scenery a vivid red.

Desolation was all that was visible, desolation stretching far off to the horizon. A cracked and useless road wound from near the base of her bluff towards the charred wooden skeleton of a pre-War town. Springvale, the one from the Overseer's terminal. The bones of a raised highway still partially stood nearby, providing shade to a bleached, scraggly ground. The unmistakable dome of the United States Capitol building stood in the distance, obviously broken and crumbling. It was like a grand art project, a study on the very spirit of entropy.

Well, shit. Now what? Julia thought. This is a situation I never really planned for. Time to think.

In the absence of plans, one defines goals, identifies ready resources, and applies said resources towards said goals. One also should take care to address specific obstacles. That said, obstacle one towards most any goal would have to be the literal radioactive wasteland out here. Pip-Boy can help me avoid the worst of the radiation, but I'll have to assume that most anything left out and about will be at least mildly radioactive. In a pinch, I can consume irradiated food and drink, but I won't want to do that for very long. So, goal one: Food and drink. Goal two: anti-radiation measures. Some type of shelter would also be a very good idea. I can probably use the Vault cave in a pinch, but I don't want to expose myself to the Overseer like that. He's probably not going to open the door again, but seeing me on that camera every day might give him ideas. If not him, some of those Security goons. Speaking of opening the door, goal 3: Find Dad. If absolutely nothing else, it's something to do, and he owes me an explanation that's seriously fucking epic in scope. We're talking the stuff legends are born from. Plus, we know Dad. If he left, he had a damned good reason too, and something like that is something that I could probably help with. After that-

Julia's brainstorming session was blown aside by a gust of music coming from the nearby ruined street.

-is somebody whistling Dixie down there? What in the name of Christ.

She rose to her feet and peered over the ledge. Down below, roughly following the old path of the street, was a small floating robot. It was about the size of a beachball, hovering along and blasting out patriotic music. She quickly decided to follow the little droid, reasoning that it might at least know the regional paths better than her, and might have useful information.

"Hello!" she said. "Are you a sentient robot? Some kind of experiment to determine the effects of subliminal noise on the brains of mammals? Wait no that's dumb, what am I on about-"

The robot gamely ignored her blathering, and she became more convinced that it was simply a platform for broadcasts, and perhaps reconnaissance. She followed the eyebot for some time, plying it fruitlessly with questions as they followed the blasted asphalt track.

"They don't talk, you know."

Julia nearly jumped out of her skin as a voice spoke up from behind her. She spun around and saw a smiling man wearing some sort of hat with goggles attached to it. Behind him was a hairless, two-headed cow and an armored man who looked like he was trying to watch everything at once. The cow had a large number of packs, boxes, and bags attached to it, and was clearly being used as a pack animal. The man seemed to be some kind of traveling merchant, which implied all sorts of interesting things (multiple settlements, the existence of settlements, maybe even some kind of centralized currency?! Or at least a common currency. Where does he get more stock?) Julia took in this bizarre scene and its various implications in while the smiling man continued.

"The eyebots." he said, gesturing to the small, spheroid robot. "They just play music, blast stray dogs, and occasionally play speeches."

Julia nodded, and made a mental note of what he'd said. Especially the part about "blasting" stray dogs.. she'd have to watch out for that. "Thanks for clearing that up for me." she said. "My name is Julia, and I'm looking for a place to find some food."

"I am called Crow." the man said, inclining his head in greeting. "As for what I do, well. Some say that it's the clothes that make the man. If that's the case, I have the means to re-make one's self."

Julia raised an eyebrow while he chuckled at his private joke. A traveling clothing merchant? Who apparently does enough business to still be alive.. interesting.

"If clothes make the man, then what makes a woman?" she asked, out of curiosity towards what he'd say than anything else. Knocking people off of their scripts was a hobby of hers, after all. As expected, he made a face like that two-headed cow of his (seriously, what the hell?) had kicked him squarely between the eyes.

"You know, nobody's asked me that before." he said, contemplatively. "I'm not sure myself."

"Maybe I could find out for you, and then tell you if I find out?" Julia asked, continuing to riff off the joke.

"I'll do you one better." Crow said, rummaging around in one of his packs, and removing a dark bundle of fabric. "Wear this. If anything will reveal the truth, this will."

Julia took the package and unwrapped it. It was a dark grey business suit. The fabric felt kind of odd, but otherwise, it seemed like a normal business suit. "Is this the suit of some famous, mysterious vigilante or something?"

"Not that I know of." Crow said, turning to leave. "But it's a very nice suit. Someday, if we meet again, you'll have to tell me what you learn from it."

"..right." Julia said, not wanting to be rude, but.. suit. "Oh! By the way, about food?"

"Megaton." Crow said simply, pointing off to the left, and wandering down the road. Julia followed the finger and soon found herself standing in front of a set of gates made of what seemed to be airplane wings, powered by a jet engine, and recessed into a thick metal wall made of junk. Above the engine was a painted sign reading simply "MEGATON". As she approached, the gates whirred noisily to life. She held her arm in front of her face as the powerful turbine blew up a small dust storm. By the time it subsided, the gates were fully open, and a semi-humanoid robot stood on the other side of where the gate had been, in front of an inner door.

"Welcome to Megaton." it said in its modulated monotone as she walked past, spotting a tall man in a cowboy hat and duster walking towards her further into the city. "The bomb is perfectly safe. We promise."

Julia froze in her tracks on the other side of the door, a cold sweat breaking out down her back.

THE WHAT?!

A/N:

Somewhat shorter chapter, but I do kind of like ending on a brown note. Who wouldn't?

People who played the game might remember Crow and his one good line, as well as his unusual manner. Figures the first person she meets is a little crazy, isn't it? Next chapter will come very shortly after I write it.