Fallout 4- A State Of Decay
Written by J.N. Petersen
This is a novelized adaption of Todd Howard and Bethesda's production of Fallout 4. So, if your looking for a short, sappy, corny romance with loose attention to detail and even less focus on the main plotline or character development, you can probably scootle-loo on down the reading list. I don't write that fluffy spoof stuff.
Here there will be violence, death, dark humor, and eventually even some explicit scenes. So- there was your parental advisory. Continue at your own discretion, and remember...Im always open to constructive criticism and or suggestions on how to make this as complete, accurate and enjoyable as possible without deviating from the original material.
Thank you for viewing
-J.
. . .
. . .
"War. War never changes."
"In the year 1945, my great-great grandfather, serving in the United States army, wondered when he'd get to go home to his wife and the son he'd never seen. He got his wish when the US ended World War II by dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Afterward, the whole world awaited Armageddon; But instead, something miraculous happened- We began to use atomic energy not as a weapon, but as a nearly limitless source of power...People enjoyed luxuries once thought the realm of science fiction. Domestic robots, fusion-powered cars, portable computers...But then, in the 21st century, people awoke from the American dream.
Years of consumption lead to shortages of every major resource. The entire world unraveled. Peace became a distant memory. It is now the year 2077. We stand on the brink of total war, and I am afraid. For myself, for my wife, for my infant son - because if my time in the army taught me one thing: it's that war...war never changes."
. . .
. . .
"Your gonna knock em' dead at the veterans hall tonight." Nora encouraged her husband, Nate, casually as she moved away from the doorway to join him in front of the bathroom mirror- It had been a few short months since the U.S. military defeated the communist Chinese at Anchorage, affectively ending his tour of duty and sending him home a decorated war hero- and America was celebrating.
"You think?" He asked nervously, brows furrowing at her reflection across from him- Nate didn't enjoy speaking in front of large crowds, but with Nora still on maternity leave, he knew it would be a good opportunity to secure a real job now that he was officially retired from the military- Some important people were expected to be in attendance, and if he presented himself well enough, he may get lucky and make some beneficial connections in his pursuit of a career in law enforcement...
"Absolutely- Now finish getting ready, and quit hogging the mirror." She teased light heartedly, only half joking- he had spent an hour already in the small room, shaving and showering, and she was hoping to get a chance to freshen up herself before their infant son, Shaun, woke that morning. Codsworth- their newly purchased Mr. Handy robot- was better with him then they had expected, but Nora was old fashioned, and didn't want her child growing up raised by a nanny-bot.
"Right," Nate chuckled softly, looking down at her with a grin as he ran a callused hand over his smooth, freshly shaven jaw line. " I'll be done in a minute- Why don't you go see if Codsworth has breakfast ready yet?" He suggested playfully, unrepentant.
rolling her eyes and heaving an exaggerated sigh, Nora hid her own small smile, affectionately smacking her husband on his firm posterior before exiting the bathroom to head down the hall toward the kitchen, where Codsworth was preparing their breakfast. The thick aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, hitting her like a brick wall as she approached. Inhaling deeply, she delighted, taking a moment to enjoy one of life's little pleasures before the Mr. Handy registered her presence.
"Ahh, Good morning mum!" Codsworth greeted her as she entered the bright, open space of their conjoined Livingroom and kitchen. Like most of Sanctuary Hill's "homes of tomorrow", the two spaces were separated by a polished granite island placed in the center of the open floor plan, where the vinyl tile flooring met the soft plush carpets. "Would you like some coffee? 173.5 degrees farenheight, brewed to perfection! And Todays newspaper, just delivered!"
"Thanks, Codsworth." She told the robot gratefully, relieving him of the offered cup of java as she skimmed the black and white headline on the paper, reading 'Case closed on mob boss, Eddie Winter'' in bold print.
"No problem mum, I live to serve!" He declared jovially, raising one metal arm to give her a quick, robotic salute- Taking the first sip of the morning, Nora savored the taste of the hot, thick liquid as her eyes skimmed over the disappointing article, detailing the centuries most egregious miscarriage of justice to date...The notorious Irish mob boss had somehow managed to get himself acquitted in federal court for crimes ranging from theft and racketeering, all the way to drug trafficking and murder...
"Anything good?" Nathan asked pleasantly, coming to join her by the island. Eagerly, he picked up the paper to inspect it himself, before reaching for their shared pack of mentholated cigarettes- his morning ritual, since returning home.
"Nah- just more of the same..." She answered lamely, choosing to ignore the troubling article in favor of the weather report on television as she hoped for a sunny forecast during the upcoming festivities... Nate had expressed a desire to dress their son up as a cop that year, but she had already decided on taking him out as a little devil some time ago- All she needed now to complete the ensemble was a little pitch fork from the comic book store in Boston...
Maybe I'll go tomorrow- get myself out of the house for once, the new mother thought wistfully as the report droned on... After a few minutes, Nora's gaze drifted to her husband once more as she imagined their first Halloween together as a family, warmth blooming inside of her while images of them strolling with Shaun through the culdesac, participating in the age old tradition of "trick or treating" played inside her minds eye. Idly, she recalled the first time they met, and how much their lives had changed since- and wondered at the changes yet to come with a sense of optimism she hadn't possessed in her adolescent years.
"What's the matter- Do i look nervous?" Nate asked anxiously, catching her starring as he looked up from the paper. "I look nervous, don't I?"
He had felt her gaze like a physical touch, but Nora hadn't even realized she was starring- she was too busy waxing nostalgic, comparing him now to the young, brazen soldier she had fallen in love with so many years ago...
It had been at the beginning of her career in law- She had volunteered to take on a risky case pro bono, as a means of getting noticed by her superiors- Nate, who had been stationed at the local fraternal post just outside of Cambridge, had been attacked in the local sports bar not far from her firm in the Boston Commons, by a man of middle eastern decent after consuming a considerable amount of alcohol while one leave one evening...Inebriated and caught off guard, the young soldier had used what the prosecution had described as excessive force to deal with the perpetrator, resulting in his unfortunate death in the hospital only hours later...Shamed and contrite, he hadn't had much hope for his case when she sat down across from him in the jail, as obviously young and inexperienced as she was- but through sheer determination and skill, the ambitious young lawyer had somehow managed to get the judge to grant him bail, and eventually outmaneuver the prosecution to get his charges dropped, exposing the supposed victim as a dangerous Islamic radical, and saving both Nate's career and reputation in the process...Elated, He had kissed her behind closed doors after the trial, and asked her to dinner that night- and needless to say, she had accepted.
They dated after that, but Nathan Stryder was a born soldier; So when the going got tough and it was time for the tough to get going, he readily deployed, leaving her alone to further advance her own career without him...It was hard for her then, but she knew he felt as strongly about fighting for his country and honoring his fathers memory, as she did about equality and justice and making her own family proud- So, she waited for him, and when he returned he rewarded her patience with a proposal and the rest might as well have been history...
"Don't be." She told him firmly." Everyone's going to love the speech." He had gone over it for hours over the last few days, making notes and perfecting the message until he was satisfied that its content was meaningful and serious, but also hopeful.
"You'd think that someone whose been shot at on a battlefield would be able to handle a bunch of grizzled vets." He responded dryly, looking discouraged. Nora giggled at his self depreciating joke, hearing the subtle bid for reassurance within.
"Whatever you do- don't try picturing them in their underwear." She warned jokingly. Chuckling, Nate tried to shake away the images of old, wrinkled veterans wearing baggy, stained briefs that popped into his mind despite her warning- And just then, a loud bawling from the nursery told them their little bundle of joy had finally awoken for the morning. Codsworth's sensors wheeled in response to the noise, his programming sending him into a whirlwind of action as he switched gears to prioritize the child.
"Ahhh, sounds like someone made a stinky!" He informed them in a sing-song voice, hovering swiftly toward the nursery. "I shall attend to young Shaun..."
Nate's brows rose as he watched the bot whiz down the hall, a small smile playing on his lips while he mentally appreciated the convenience their latest purchase had provided- and now that Shaun was almost a month old, with the gynecologist's okay, he planned on using the extra time the bot provided them with...Reproductively.
"I know we were nervous at first, but im glad we got Codsworth." He admitted, setting the newspaper aside and slinking toward her smoothly to slip his arms around her waist. Nora giggled as she caught onto his sudden shift in mood, reaching up to tangle her hands in his damp chestnut hair as he pulled her close. He smelled of mens cologne, and cigarette smoke- a heady smell she had become addicted to in their 7 years together.
"Yeah- his new infant care subroutine's are pretty amazing- but I still think we need to take him in to be serviced soon, and have some junk rewired- or whatever it is they do..." She informed callously, bringing him up short.
"Why?" He asked, aghast- robot maintenance was expensive, and he himself had no complaints on its performance as of late. "Yesterday, You said you trusted him with Shaun implicitly!"
"I know!" She exclaimed in exasperation. " He's proven that he's probably more qualified to raise our son than we even are- so why cant he seem to draw my bath water at anything over 70 degrees? I swear he's doing it on purpose- trying to be funny I think- but its getting old, Nate."
Ding-Dong!
As the doorbell rang, interrupting their conversation, Nate's eyes darted quickly to the door in annoyance.
"Its that damned salesman again- i dont know why he keeps bothering us." he complained, eyes narrowing as he recalled the last time the salesman had called on them; After taking the early morning shift with Shaun so that Nora could sleep in, the ambitious new father had been attempting to put the baby down for a nap, so that he could finish writing his speech- Many mind numbing episodes of "Jangles the moon monkey" later, the infant had finally drifted off... until the doorbell sounded and woke both him and Nora. by the time he had made it to the door to finally answer, the man had gone, leaving Nate frustrated and angry.
"Maybe if we ignore him, he'll go away?" She suggested hopefully, pressing herself against him firmly and looking up at him with eyes that silently beckoned- His body responded readily, and he could have taken her right then, right there on the counter- but the salesman wasn't giving up that easy...
Ding-Dong!
Nate smiled down at her affectionately, tucking a stray lock of dark auburn hair behind her ear as he leaned in to press his forehead against hers, capturing her hazel grey gaze and prolonging the moment before their lips would finally meet. She sighed then, insides squirming as she starred into his bottomless brown pools, sucking in a ragged breath while her heart palpitated in anticipation. How is it, that every time he kisses me, it always feels like the first time? She wondered almost breathlessly.
Ding-Dong! Ding-Dong!
"I wonder whose going to give up first- us, or him?" Nate asked rhetorically, eyes snapping to the door sharply once more as it chirped insistently. Heaving a heavy sigh, Nora shook her head and looked back up at her husband apologetically.
"I should answer it- he's obviously not giving up..." She told him apologetically, sounding just as frustrated as he felt- Nate heaved a heavy sigh, reluctantly releasing her from his embrace.
"Yeah, i've tried waiting him out before- It didnt turn out well for me." He admitted dryly in response, moving away from her to take his usual spot on the couch as the weather program gave way to the sports report- The fourth game of the world series was being played in Boston that afternoon, and he would have killed for tickets.
Ding-Dong! Ding-Dong! Ding-Dong...
"He's persistent, I'll give him that..."
After straightening her skirt out and making sure she was presentable, Nora moved to answer the door, revealing a short salesman wearing a dapper khaki suit and buckled fedora. To her trained eye, he seemed visibly relieved when the door opened at last...
"Hello, Vault Tec calling!" He greeted, tipping his hat politely and giving her a bright smile that didn't quite reach his eyes- Vault tec- a corporation dedicated to building a network of self sustaining, state of the art fallout shelters built to sustain human life in the event of a nuclear disaster. What could they possibly want?
"Good morning." She responded suspiciously, offering a polite smile in return as he shifted in place. Obviously uncomfortable, he nodded stiffly in agreement, squinting as he looked skyward- Other than being a little chilly, it was an otherwise bright and sunny fall morning- not a cloud in the sky...
"Isnt it? just look at that sky out there!" He agreed readily, clearing his throat before quickly switching the subject- hoping to get straight to the point. "You don't know how relieved i am to finally speak with you- ive been trying to reach you for days! Its...of utmost urgency." he exaggerated expertly.
"What's so important?" She asked then, brows pulling together as her interest was piqued- Inside, Nate continued to watch the news, only half paying attention as he eavesdropped on the conversation from him spot in the living room.
"Why, nothing less than your entire future!" The salesman responded quickly, not missing a beat. " If you havnt noticed ma'am, this countries gone to heck in a handbasket- if you'll excuse my language...the big "kaboom" is -well- its inevitable, I'm afraid. And coming sooner than you may think, if you catch my meaning..."
As a veteran of war, the reality of the nuclear threat was something Nathan was very aware of- and as his wife, Nora knew it was also his worst nightmare...Worried, she shot a quick glance toward the couch to gauge his reaction, hoping the subject wouldn't agitate him.
"...Than im glad you caught up with me." She lied politely, even though she could not have cared less.
"Me too- you have no idea." He told her seriously, looking genuinely relieved. "Now, i know your a busy woman, so i wont take up much of your time- time, being a... precious commodity- I am here to tell you that because of your families service to this country, you have been pre-selected for entry into the local vault!" He revealed with faux enthusiasm, as if she had just won the lottery.
Nathan turned toward them from his spot on the couch then, interest finally piqued- normally, he had a zero tolerance policy for solicitors, but he would have had to be daft to turn down a free place inside the vault- after all, his entire motivation behind buying their home in Sanctuary had been due to its proximity to the vault 111 construction zone.
"Sounds great!" Nora responded strangely, not sure how to react- she knew that the threat of nuclear detonation was very real, but it had been a possibility for so long, she hadnt really considered it could happen in her lifetime- unlike Nate, who lost sleep regularly thinking about every possible way the war could find him, and destroy his little family...
"Oh, it is, believe you me!" The man assured her vehemently, sensing her hesitation.
"But we have a son- there would be room for our entire family, right?" Nate interjected apprehensively, wondering what the catch was- from his experience, if something seemed too good to be true, it usually was...
"Of course, of course..." came the earnest, ready response. "-Minus your robot, naturally- in fact, you're already cleared for entrance! Its just a matter of getting a little more information- dont want there to be any hold ups in the unforeseen event of total atomic annihilation... wont take but a moment..." He insisted, smiling nervously as he handed over a battered clipboard and pen.
"Uh- I don't really have time for all of this..." Nora hesitated, grimacing as she thumbed through several pages of questions asking for trivial information such as height, weight, ethnicity, ect...
"Come on honey, its just a little paperwork- fill it out and its done." Nate advised hopefully, before amending his statement and holding out an expectant hand. " Or hell- give it to me, I'll fill it out."
Nora rolled her eyes at him then, turning away pointedly to peer down at the paper, and jot down their info- And while she was busy filling in the blanks and checking the appropriate boxes, Nate took the opportunity to ask the rep a few more questions.
"Can you tell us more about this vault?" He interrogated casually, resting a heavily tattooed arm on the back of the couch as he adjusted his position to better address their guest- And being well rehearsed in his pitch, the sharply dressed salesman confidently obliged...
"Oh, it has all the amenities of a modern home, I assure you- not to mention, total protection from nuclear radiation and hostile mutants. Its "A better future, underground." Our mission- our passion, if you will..." he explained eloquently.
"Great," Nate exclaimed sarcastically in response, flashing the man a wry grin. "Now I cant wait for the world to end..."
Not quite feeling the other mans dry sense of humor, the salesman forced an awkward laugh at the joke. "Now that's the spirit." He enthused half heartedly, glancing hopefully at the clipboard as Nora finished filling out the paperwork, looking visibly relieved when she finally handed it back for him to inspect.
"Wonderful!" He celebrated out loud, looking over her answers briefly to make sure they were complete. "Well, that's everything- I'm just gonna, uh, get this over to the vault now to make sure your all set up...Congratulations on being "Prepared for the future!" He called over his shoulder as he turned away, making a hasty retreat back up the cement walk way.
"Uhm...Yeah- You too..." She answered strangely as he nearly jogged up the road, firmly pushing the door closed before turning around to fix her husband with a scolding stare.
"hey- its peace of mind. That's worth a little paperwork, right?" He asked her smugly, happy to have gotten his way- the vault projects had been all over the news as of late, and he had wanted one since the first time he had seen it. Needless to say, it had been out of their budget-until now.
Straightening in his seat as Nora rounded the couch to stand before him, he starred up at her from beneath his impossibly long, thick eyelashes the way he knew always made her forgive him- the way that turned her brain to mush and sent the butterflies inside her fluttering.
"For you and Shaun, no price is too high." She responded smoothly as her expression softened, letting him know he was forgiven... He smirked in response to the line, eyes sparkling mischievously as he reached out to grab at her dress skirts, pulling her closer, until she was straddling his lap on the cushions.
"Good answer." He complimented huskily, face just inches from hers.
"I have my moments..." She reminded him, before closing the distance and pressing her lips to his again at last...
Emerging from the nursery, Codsworth hastily hovered down the hall and into the living room then, interrupting their would be interlude.
"Miss Nora- Shaun's diaper has been changed, but he absolutely refuses to calm down! Perhaps he needs some of that maternal affection you seem to be so good at?" The handybot suggested helpfully as the infants cries echoed down the hallway. mildly perturbed, Nora sighed, giving Nate a look of exasperation that made him chuckle softly.
"Go ahead hon- I'll be in to help in a few minutes." He promised, grabbing the remote and turning up the volume on the Television as the anchor began to report on the political situation over sea's- Even retired, it seemed to Nora that the war still remained his primary interest...
Defeated, she removed herself from his lap and headed down the hallway to console their son, concerned by the shrill sounds he was making. Peeking carefully over the rails of the crib to look at him, she caught the infants attention immediately. Upon seeing her, his little face lit up like a light, and he began to kick his small, chubby legs in excitement as he reached for her with tiny fingers.
Smiling warmly down at him, she reached into the crib to tickle his belly, causing him to giggle and flail his limbs happily in response. Silently, Nate came to linger in the threshold, watching his family with a sense of wonder; before he had met Nora, he had never planned for a future. He always assumed he would die in the service- and would have been happy to do so, until she came along. Now...he had to live. for them. To protect them and make sure they had the best life could offer...
"My boy isn't giving his mother any trouble, is he?" The proud new father inquired softly, alerting her to his presence as he leaned casually against the door frame. She shot a quick smile over her shoulder in his direction to let him know all was well, before gazing back down lovingly at their son.
"He has your eyes." She informed as he came to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he peered over her shoulder to see for himself. After a brief observation, he had to agree- they were the same bottomless onyx black color he had been starring at in the mirror his whole life. They even had the same shape!
"Hey," He exclaimed, giving her a gentle squeeze as he was reminded of his most recent repair project. "I just fixed that mobile on his crib the other day- why dont you try giving it a spin?"
Grinning, Nora reached out and gave the little wheel of dangling planets and rockets a push, activating the motor, which had burned out shortly after bringing Shaun home from the hospital...He giggled as music began to play and the figures started to spin around above him, causing both parents to smile as they watched with pride...
"Awe, how's my little guy? Much better now, huh?" She asked, cooing down at the wiggling infant comfortingly- he kicked and waved his arms in excitement, dimpling up at them as he let out a high pitched squeal that was somewhere between a cry and a giggle.
"That's my boy- on his best behavior, just like his dad..." Nora grinned up at Nate as he shot her a sly look before amending his statement."-Well, most of the time anyway."
turning around in his embrace, she reached up on her tip toes to give him a kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck- she was only 5'3, so he had to lift her up to prolong the contact, crushing her against his own tall, broad frame as he did so. Originally, she had meant for the kiss to be innocent and loving, but after a few moments of uninterrupted mouth to mouth contact, they found themselves unable to resist deepening the intimacy. Nipping his lower lip teasingly, Nora hummed her contentment against his mouth while Nate reached one hand up to tangle his fingers in her thick, wavy hair as his member began to swell- Hungrily, he slipped his tongue passed her lips and teeth until it brushed against her own, savoring the sound of her pleasure as she moaned into the kiss...All too soon though, Nora had to break for air, becoming light headed as she forgot to breath.
"Listen," Nate started before she could press her lips to his again, sounding breathless himself- he had been trying to think of a way to ask her something since waking, and even though his fingers itched to touch her, he was determined not to put it off again. "After breakfast, I was thinking maybe we could go for a walk in the park? The weather should hold out..." She wasn't aware yet, but he had made something for her the other day, and he was hoping it would be a good place to present it to her- for the entirety of their relationship, she had put up with his continued absences faithfully, using their time apart to be productive, laying the financial foundation for their future by getting her law degree, and staying focused on her career until he was ready to retire from the military- and for that, he wanted her to know just how grateful, and proud he was to call her his wife...
"Right. The park- With you...Because i wanna get pregnant again." She joked sarcastically, conjuring images in both of their minds of the night they had conceived Shaun at the local park almost a year prior, in the dew soaked grass- Nate got off on doing things like that, whenever they got the chance...
"Weren't you hoping to catch the world series on Television this afternoon? Boston's primed to win this year, you know." Nora reminded him, knowing his enthusiasm for the American pastime, and hoping to stall intercourse for a few more days- Her doctor had warned her that a womans body was at peak fertility in the months after giving birth, and though Nate would have been happy to put another baby inside her, she wasn't ready to go through pregnancy just yet. Truth be told, Nate had momentarily forgotten about the world series- there was no way he could miss it! Perhaps he would present his gift to her on date night? Concord was getting a little old, and he had been thinking about taking her out to Boston anyway. Italian, maybe?
"Sir?... Mum?! You should come see this!" Codsworth interrupted them once more, calling out urgently from the living room. Nate's brows furrowed at the concern in the robots tone.
"Codsworth? Whats wrong?" he called back, sharing a worried look with Nora as they waited for an answer- When none came, he bent down to reach into the crib, carefully picking up the baby before following her out of the nursery, back into the Livingroom where Codsworth was hovering, sensors glued to the television news report- right away, they could tell by the anchor's tone, that something was very wrong...
"Followed by...flashes- Yes, flashes...blinding flashes. sounds of explosions...we're trying to get confirmation, but we seem to have lost contact with our affiliate stations..." The man reported strangely, as if he couldnt quite wrap his head around what was going on as he listened to the information streaming through his earpiece.
"Is this...is this for real?" Nora asked, looking up at her husband with wide, concerned eyes- Nate swallowed hard, his heart beginning to hammer painfully against his sternum as a cold chill ran down his spine- this couldn't be happening, he thought wordlessly as he shook his head, onyx eyes glued to the reporter on the Television while his mind continued to reel. Beside him, Nora struggled to comprehend the meaning of what she had heard.
"We do have...We do have coming in, confirmed reports- i repeat, confirmed reports of nuclear detonations in Pennsylvania and new York!...Oh my God..." The man lamented as he covered his face with his hands, slumping heavily against his desk before the program cut out, switching to the nationwide emergency broadcast alert.
Outside, the evacuation alarm sounded.
"We need to get to the vault- NOW!" Nate instructed firmly, survival instincts kicking in as all his military training seemed to resurface at once. "Ive got Shaun, lets move!"
There was no time to grab any personal belongings or keepsakes- none of that was important anymore. All that mattered now, was that they made it to the vault in time- before the bomb dropped, and life as they knew it would come to an end. After ushering Nora outside, Nate lingered in the doorway, pausing to look back at Codsworth where he hovered by the picture window, watching as the chaos ensued.
"Codsworth!" He addressed the robot quickly, not knowing quite what to say, but feeling as if he owed him some sort of thanks for the service he had done for his family since his return from the war. "Good luck- stay safe!" The bots sensors tightened in response, as if it was at a loss for words itself.
"You and your family as well sir...oh dear." He heard the bot say as he turned quickly on his heel, dashing out the door onto the front lawn- the grass was soft and green beneath his feet, but he scarcely noticed for all that was happening around them- right outside their house, an armored vault tec van had already parked, a horn of sizable proportions connected to its top. Their neighbors- like them- had begun to evacuate, flooding out onto their lawns and into the street.
"Residents of sanctuary hills, if you are registered, please evacuate to vault 111 immediately!" The man inside the armored van called out on the megaphone, over the sound of the blaring siren.
"Oh my god! this isn't really happening- is it?" One of their neighbors asked shrilly, near to panic as she stood on her lawn, looking up to the sky as if it were about to fall on them- which, it might as well have been.
"I...I don't know." The woman next to her responded strangely, unable to comprehend what was happening. Nora recognized her as a young woman named Rosa- She had TP'ed their house last Halloween, and this year, Nate had been determined to get home early enough to foil her next attempt...
"The vault is this way- come on!" Another of their neighbors shouted from the street as military vehicles began to race into the culdesac from the north and eastern exits, promptly setting up road blocks and bumpers to direct the evacuation effort. Nate herded Nora forward then, trying not to lose her in the stampede of retreating people as he struggled not to stumble with Shaun in his arms- frightened by the activity, the infant squirmed against his fathers chest, beginning to bawl as he was jostled around...
"Its okay little buddy," Nate told the child comfortingly, jogging along the sidewalk at a brisk pace. "Just hold on, its gonna be okay..."
"We'll drive to the coast- thats gotta be far enough!" A man was telling his wife as they passed by, frantic, shoving two packed duffle bags into the trunk of his car while she stood nearby with their children.
"And what if its not!?" She screeched fearfully as the little boy and girl clung to her dress with wide, frightened eyes.
"Vault participants, head this way!" A bullhorn called out over the noise- Ahead, Nate could see a man in military fatigues, waving his arms where the pavement dropped off and the dirt drive out of town began, and as he reached the roadblock, he wheeled around in search of his wife.
"This is it! Its all over, this is the end...those communist bastards!"
"Nora!?" He called out over the cacophony, voice raising several octaves as he realized she was no longer with him- he had not been watching her, assuming she would keep to his back and stay close. Stomach dropping, Nate felt near to panic for the first time in a long time as he searched the passing stampede of desperate civilians for her face.
"Over here!" She called out to him in response, breathless as she caught up to him- right away, he noticed her left brow was bleeding, and the cheekbone below it was beginning to swell. "I fell." She explained, still a little shaken from the ordeal- She had been shoved down by a passing man in his haste to find safety, and as the residents around her continued to flee, she had been stepped on and tripped over several times before managing to get back to her feet.
Relieved, Nate nodded toward the sloping dirt road, motioning for her to take the lead so he could keep his eyes on her from that point on- the vault construction sight was just up the hill, passed the riverbed. They didn't have far to go now, but as Nora's soft, bare feet stepped over the rocky dirt on the pathway, she wished she had been able to put on her shoes before leaving their home...
Nearing the small wooden bridge exiting the village limits at last, they passed a man and a woman who had stopped on the side of the trail- The man was on his knees, his pressed tan suit covered in dust as his briefcase contents lay scattered about him on the ground while he attempted to desperately to retrieve them all.
"leave the bags! who cares about the luggage!?" His wife screamed at him as she watched her neighbors pass without them- and Nora could tell by the look in her eye she was considering leaving him behind as well.
"Just help me pick them up!" He pleaded with her, sweat dripping from his brow. "I cant lose these! its...it'll be all i have left!" Their voices faded in the distance as Nora and Nate climbed the sloping trail, to where the rest of their neighbors had gathered around the gate, waiting for entry into the vault compound. As they neared, a vault tech agent clad in blue and yellow spandex hollered instructions urgently as he ushered them forward to join the rabble.
"Check in at the gate- if your in the program they'll let you through!" He promised. Nate gave the man a curt nod, turning to assess situation- crowd control had assembled at the gate, and a military officer in riot gear, equipped with an assault rifle and clipboard, guarded the entry. flanking him were two other men in military fatigues, and one more in a shiny set of new power armor...
"...That's absurd- i AM vault tech!" They heard someone yell above the gathering of frightened people as he pushed their way into the crowd. Ahead, the sales rep they had seen less than an hour ago was arguing with the guard, who seemed to be denying him entry despite his employment status for the company.
"You're not on the list." The soldier responded firmly, face stern as he looked from the clipboard to the salesman without sympathy, determined to play by the rules. Paranoia rising with every wasted moment, Nate looked to the sky in fear, feeling himself perspire despite the autumn chill in the air.
"I don't care- I'm going in!" The rep insisted brashly. "You cant stop me!"
Bold words.
A collective gasp went through the crowd as the soldier raised his weapon, pointing it dauntlessly at the smaller man as he tried to step forward and push passed- And Nora struggled to see what was happening from their place at the back of the group.
"Jesus! okay- Im going, don't shoot!" The rep pleaded despite himself, hands up as scrambled to back away, shoving through the throng of citizens as he shouted indignantly over his shoulder. "Im reporting this!"
"If your in the vault program step forward, otherwise GO HOME!" The guard instructed the assembly in a stern voice, growing more frustrated as the crowd continued to grow- if it got much bigger, crowd control would have trouble keeping them back, and he may have to open fire on the panicked citizens to keep them from forcing their way onto the compound.
"Oh god..." One man lamented fearfully as he realized death was inevitable. " We're not in the vault program! we're all gonna die!"
"Our house doesn't even have a basement!" another man called out above the crowd, looking beside him desperately to the faces of his wife and small child as he spoke. "Where are we supposed to go?" Nora's heart ached as she looked at the many small children around them, listening to the adults argue and shout with wide, uncomprehending eyes- they had no way of knowing they had just been condemned to death...
"If your not registered, your not getting in!" The soldier reaffirmed, pointedly avoiding eye contact as he stood his ground. Truthfully, he empathized with the man- but he was given orders, and he had never been one to disobey direct protocol.
"The bombs are coming- who cares if we're not in the program?" His wife pleaded desperately, to no avail.
"Why are they doing this? they have to let us in! they have to!" Another shrill, panicked woman cried in denial- Having heard enough, Nate began to push his way through the crowd, knowing that their time was running out. Determined not to lose him again, Nora kept close behind this time.
"Hey hey! keep it orderly, and we'll check and see if your on the list..." The soldier reiterated again as they shoved their way to the front.
"We need to get in- we're on the list." He insisted firmly, posture tense as the man looked slowly from his determined expression, back down to the clipboard to check the paperwork. Every second seemed like an eternity passing as he flipped through the pages, looking for their registry papers. Come on, come on! Nate urged mentally, as if he could will the man to search faster.
"Adult male...Adult female...Infant...Alright, you're in- head up to the elevator." He instructed them dutifully upon confirming their membership, stepping aside to allow them safe passage.
"Thank you!" Nate told the man fervently as relief flooded him- if they had been turned away, he would have been prepared to give Shaun to Nora, and insight the crowd to riot, using their full force to break through the gate and make it to the elevator at the top of the hill.
"Good luck sir- and may God help us all..." The soldier responded gravely, giving them a curt nod before turning back to face the crowd as they began to struggle against the fence. Resolutely, the soldiers flanking him closed in as hysteria began to break out.
"This way- come with me!" Another vault tech agent, clad in black riot gear over his vault suit called out to them, motioning for them to hurry as he broke into a sprint, leading them up the winding hillside.
"Whats gonna happen to all those people outside the gate?" Nate asked, stealing a quick glance back at all their neighbors, clinging desperately to the chain link fence behind them.
"Were doing everything we can, now keep moving!" He instructed vehemently as they ran to join the rest of the vault participants gathered at the top of the hill, in the center of the steel built elevator platform- out of Sanctuary Hills entire population, only a handful of their neighbors had signed up for the program...
"Step on the platform- in the center!" The agent yelled over the sound of a vertibird landing nearby, all but pushing them onto the platform in his haste to get them to safety. "...Alright, that's it- send it down!"
Taking deep breaths, Nora swallowed hard, wide hazel eyes scanning the horizon anxiously as she forced herself to stay calm in the face of disaster.
"We're almost there..." She breathed hopefully, before turning to inspect the squirming infant in her husbands arms. " Is Shaun alright?"
"He's fine." Nate assured her softly, in an effort to soothe her nerves as they waited for the inevitable. "Everything's gonna be okay- I love you..."
BOOM
A collective gasp rang out as the bomb touched down on the horizon, exploding in the distance with a blinding flash of light- The ground shook on impact as the earths crust was shattered, and as the citizens of Sanctuary Hills began to scream in terror, Nate's eyes stayed glued to the horizon line while the giant, mushroom cloud of smoke filled the sky and the blast began to fan out from the base- Helplessly, they watched as death approached at a rapid rate, racing toward them unforgivingly as they stood helplessly upon the platform.
"NOW NOW! SEND IT DOWN NOW!" The vault agent repeated, shouting urgently above the noise as he refused to die in vain.
"HOLD ON!" Nate shouted to his wife in warning, pulling her to him as he turned away from the blast to shield them flutily from the incoming wave of radiation and debris as the elevator jerked, slowly beginning to lower them down... Unable to tear her eyes away from the scene, Nora peered over his shoulder as she clung to her family, watching in wide eyed wonder as the wave came nearer and nearer, incinerating and demolishing everything in its wake.
"Can this thing go any faster?!" One of their neighbors asked petulantly- the wave was just miles away now, and in seconds, it would all be over...
"OH GOD, OH GOD, OH GOD...!"
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. . .
"We did it." Nate whispered in blatant disbelief as he straightened, looking from the wiggling bundle in his arms toward his wife with shock filled eyes as the elevator touched ground just outside the entrance to the inner vault chamber. "...We made it- We're okay..."
"Please, everyone evacuate the elevator and proceed up the stairs in an orderly fashion." Another blue suited agent instructed them calmly, standing at the base of a set of metal stairs as the shaft gate lifted to allow them in...Uncertain, the shell shocked group of survivors hesitated, looking to one another for reassurance as they lingered on the platform.
"No need to worry folks, we'll get everyone situated into your new home- Vault 111- a better future, underground." The vault overseer- a clean cut man of advanced years, with silvery hair and shrewd, dark blue eyes addressed them welcomingly from a raised platform, where a catwalk formed a bridge through an immense, circular opening in the thick concrete wall of the chamber.
"So, we just..." A man Nora recognized to be Mr. Russel from two houses down, asked nervously as he took the first timid steps out of the elevator into the open entry chamber beyond, observing the trail of arrows painted on the concrete floor leading up the stairs toward the catwalk.
"Yes, that's right, up the stairs..." The Overseer coaxed patiently. Beside Nate, Mr. Able- another retired veteran- reflected vaguely on their luck at surviving as he too exited the shaft.
"To think, if we had all left even a minute later...We'd all be..."
"No no, don't get caught up thinking about all that," The Overseer interrupted before he could finish his sentence, as everyone began to file out and fall in line for the stairs. "You're safe now- Everyone just head up these stairs, and through the door there..."
Letting the technicians guide them, the survivors entered one by one through the opening that would soon be closed and sealed by several tons of cold rolled steel to keep any radiation from seeping in from the surface.
"Vault tec is here for you. All new residents please proceed in an orderly fashion- and welcome home." A computerized voice greeted them over an intercom system as they crossed the threshold, stepping off the catwalk and letting the vault personnel herd them into line, where several nurses used strange devices to scan their vitals before entering the information into a terminal...
"Adult male. Male infant. Temperature normal, blood pressure moderate- looks good." Nate started as the man reached out, grabbing him firmly by the wrist before sticking a large needle into the center of his forearm, giving him a quick shock before releasing him and discarding the used syringe.
"What was that?" He asked almost angrily as the man quickly disinfected the puncture wound before patching it with a band aid.
"Just something we use to monitor everyone's vitals- no need to worry." The nurse stated evasively, reaching out to take Nora's arm as she approached. A knot of apprehension formed in Nate's core as he watched him administer the device, before moving on to the man behind her without so much as looking at them.
"This way- please step up to the table, and take a suit." A woman beckoned to them, holding out one of the deep blue spandex suits they all wore- Staying close to each other, Nora and Nate each took one before looking to each other with similar masks of concern.
"Thanks- what now?" Nora asked then, unsure with how to proceed. Beside her, Shaun began to squirm harder, crying out loudly in Nate's arms. Frustrated, He began to bounce the baby, cooing to him softly as he observed their new surroundings curiously.
"Just follow the Dr.- He'll show you where to go." The woman responded easily, giving them a kind, reassuring smile as she grabbed the next suit from the stack and handed it to Mrs. Abel.
"All right you three, follow me." A man they could only assume was "the Dr." by his white coat and the state of the art Pip boy secured around his wrist, directed them pleasantly, seeming chipper despite current events- Nora ogled the technology in his possession enviously, wondering how rich you had to be to afford something like that as he directed them through another doorway, and down a crowded corridor.
"See?" Nate asked Shaun soothingly as they passed a Rec room to their right, and the mess hall just beyond that. "This is our new home..."
"Ah, your gonna love it here!" The optimistic Dr. promised conversationally, overhearing Nate's statement. "This is one of the most advanced facilities- not that the others aren't exceptional, mind you." he informed them humorously over his shoulder as they continued onward, unperturbed- Leading them down the hall and to the left, they entered into another, smaller chamber lined by large mechanical pods on either side, with various wires and tubes protruding from them like something out of a science fiction film- And it was considerably colder in here, Nora noticed self consciously as she crossed her arms over her chest to hide her budding nipples.
"Its gone...Our home- Everything we had..." Mr. Russel said as he leaned heavily against one of the pods for support, already wearing his procured vault suit. Beside him, his wife wiped tears away.
"Oh God, my mom and dad in D.C...Oh honey, what if they didn't make it?" She sobbed, covering her face with her hands as he moved to wrap her in his arms.
"I know this is a difficult time for your family, but vault tech will be with you every step of the way- You'll thrive here." Another female technician promised comfortingly, putting a hand on the other woman's shoulder as she cried against her husbands chest. Watching the scene uneasily, Nate swallowed hard.
"How long do you think we'll be down here?" He asked the dr. nervously, not liking the idea of being closed in- the walls here were too narrow for his liking, and the ceilings too low. If they had to live there for the rest of their lives, he was going to have to get over his claustrophobia...Quickly.
"Oh, we'll be going over all that during orientation- Theres just a few more medical items we have to get through first. " He informed quickly, flashing them a bright smile as they came to a stop at the end of the row of pods, pulling one open to reveal a reclined seat inside. "Just step in here, and put your vault suit on."
Nate balked- if he felt confined now, he would have a panic attack once they closed the doors on that thing...Feeling a similar sense of dread at the prospect of stepping into the pod, Nora swallowed hard, turning to look at Shaun as he began to cry again- the sound made her breasts ache painfully, and she realized with a start that she hadn't had the chance to feed him yet today- What time was it even? Noon?
"Its okay, mamma's right here, see?" Her husband told their son as his little limbs flailed restlessly, leaning over so that he could see her as he bounced and rocked in place. "Honey, can you help me?"
Nora reached in to tickle his belly, tears springing to her eyes at the sound of his cries. " Whose my little guy? I'll be just over here, okay? Mommies not going far..." Nate watched, heart warming as their son grabbed her finger in his tiny hand, trying to pull it to his mouth to suckle on, and before she could move away to step into her pod, he leaned down to press his lips to hers one last time.
"I love you." She murmured tenderly, looking up at him for a long moment as she hesitated, vault suit in hand.
"And I love you- Go on ahead. I just want to give Shaun a minute... " he answered back, a strange, aching feeling in his chest beginning to form as he watched her turn around, climbing into the pod before they closed her in...
"It's all right." The Dr. assured him, seeing the look of apprehension in his eyes as they became separated. " The pod will decontaminate, and depressurize you before we head deeper into the vault- Just relax."
Nodding stiffly, Nate turned as the Dr. opened the door to his own pod, and since resistance was futile, he complied, stepping into the coffin shaped pod despite his fears. Holding him tightly, he focused on Shaun's little face as the doors were closed on them, shutting him inside the claustrophobic little chamber. Across the room, Nora watched him closely from the small window that allowed them to see outside, having donned her suit already.
"Time for a whole new life..." She whispered to herself sadly, trying to feel optimistic- And as she watched, Nate put his hand out, pressing it against the window while meeting her gaze. Heart pounding, Nora put her own hand up, eyes never leaving his as the computer began to scan her vitals.
"Occupant vitals, normal- Depressurizing." It told her as a cold white vapor began to fill the pod, chilling her to the bone and causing the air to become so thin she could barely breath. "Procedure complete in...5...4...3...2...1..."
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