Jonah:
I'm not sure if we should have left the Vault or not, we were being kept in the dark about everything that went on there, but it still was safe and we knew enough to feel safe in our surroundings. We could go back, but I have a feeling that would not go over well with everyone else. Now that we don't have the pods, we will be aging faster than everyone else still in the Vault, but we will technically have more time than them to do what we want, at the moment.
We all stand on a large ledge that looks down from the mountain that the Vault was on to a small valley, lush and green. There are large hills on the opposite side that prevents me from looking any further.
"W-wow," utters Sam. "Thi-this is beautiful, bu-but I thought that the Vault teachers said thi-thi-this place was irradiated and desolate."
"I did too, but obviously they fucking lied," Nick says, obviously frustrated. "We could have lived out here for our entire lives, we would be able to live normal lives, running around and playing, living off of the land and not test tube grown food."
"I-I agree," Sam says nodding. "It would have been ni-nice to live a normalized childhood, even if w-we would have dangers, that makes life what it is."
We all stood there taking in the beautiful view that our eyes beheld. I hope that we can survive out here, and maybe even live in the valley after we explore around a little bit and make sure it is safe. This world is so beautiful, but I wonder what lead to its near destruction in the first place. Who would want to destroy whole patches of this Earth to settle small disputes that could have been talked out in person.
When I was staring my brain remembers the fact that we had no safe place for the night, as well as no food or water. We were not prepared for surviving out here. We needed a place to live that will be near help and clean water. The only thing I don't know about is what we will do for food, I've never cooked any animal other than a fish before, and I don't know what hundreds of years of radiation will have done to salmon, but probably nothing good.
"We need a place to sleep, and we need to get supplies because, like we learned, there are dangerous things and people out here," I remind everyone. "I want a place to call home now."
"I agree that will be our top priority, but I also wonder if there have been any scientific advancements in all this time?" Riley says. "Or did the bombs set us back overall, I mean we have anti-aging tech, but can we still make that or has that knowledge been lost?
"I don't know, but I see a town in the valley," Ivory observes. "We should head there, but be wary of our surroundings at all times."
"L-look through all of the houses for supplies, bu-but remember; we don't know if people are still living here, w-w-we don't need to go looking for trouble," Sam stutters, concerned.
We split up and looked around the town for about an hour and a half. I found only a few items that were useful like some food and drinks in an old refrigerator and cupboards and brought them to the center of town, where we were supposed to meet, and waited.
When we all arrived we went through everything that we found one by one voting on whether it was going to be useful or not. We found a lot of water and food which was good, Riley was able to open a safe that contained a combat shotgun, two pistols, and a first aid kit. I found a house where somebody had a bomb shelter, but obviously didn't make it as it was still stocked with food, a water purifier, a Tommy gun, ammo for our other guns, more health supplies, and four sleeping bags. Eric found a tank that was stuck in the back of a house, but was unable to pry it's top open, and the rest of the group were unable to find anything of use.
"Who is gonna carry all of this stuff, cause I don't want to," Nick complains.
"We should split it up between us s-so we all pull a fair share," Sam says. "W-we should split the guns between us, with ammo for each on that same person, anyone nau-not carrying guns will carry food and water."
"I don't want a gun, so I'll take the first aid and the water purifier," Ben adds. "I think that Nick should have the Tommy gun, Riley and Jonah, the two pistols, and Ivory with the shotgun, we will find something for you Eric, but for now could you carry the food and water please."
"Fine but in the next town I get to pick from what we get, deal?" Eric asks.
"Alright, Eric, but we also need to think about where we are going to bed for the night," Ivory says. "We aren't safe out here and need to make a home somewhere, somewhere we can protect from the things they tell us are out here.
We all pick up the supplies Ben suggested and leave for the mountains nearest the edge of the valley wondering what we will see on the other side, if anything is there at all.
Two hours later we arrive at the top just as the sun was setting behind us where our old home still lay, and ahead of us is the entire world: beaten by radiation, bombs, and the remains of once great cities strewn in front of us. The only things we can see was a more modern city built over the impact crater of a nuclear bomb about twenty-five miles away, a small town only ten miles from the hill we were on, and a huge mountain off in the distance with smoke pouring out of the top. Even from here I see the glow of the lava that must lie inside it.
"There are other people out here, I mean I knew there were people out here, just not enough to make a city!" Eric says in awe. "We could live there, but I wonder if they know there is a Vault here."
"Le-let's just get there safe and sound, th-then we can be happy and be breathing f-fresh, non-augmented air," Sam says. "And if we start now we could make it before night, a-a-and I would like to have a bed e-especially out here."
"I don't want to run the risk of being caught out at night, so let's just go back to the town where we know is safe and rest, a lot has happened today," Riley says quietly.
Without argument we start heading back to the town upon returning we lay out the sleeping bags for Eric, Sam, Nick, and Ivory. Nick put his right next to Ivory's, no surprise there, and Ben and I found a few couch cushions that were not in too bad shape and made one big mattress. Trying to sleep is weird because we have never actually slept before, only been suspended in time, so like normal we all waited to go to "sleep", but that never happened. We all sit staring at the night sky which was now peppered with bright stars, and the occasional searchlight from that big town. Ivory, Eric, Riley, and Ben all get up and start working on something after a few hours, while I sit staring for what felt like years before I see the light of the sun brighten the sky, hiding the beautiful stars.
