Officer Gomez sits at his post, sipping a cup of coffee. A muffled bang echoes from behind him. It's probably just George trying to fix the water purifier again. He sighs, and takes a look around him. Things in the Vault have changed so much since James left. Bodies litter the floor, victims of the Overseer's fight for control. Everywhere are signs of dissent and rebellion. Some of the Rebels have painted over the signs that use to hang over the entranceway; FUCK THE OVERSEER is painted everywhere.
With a sigh, Officer Gomez turns back to his coffee. If only James hadn't left. So much pain was caused, all Officer Gomez can do is hope that things will get better. Perhaps the Overseer will finally give in now that his own daughter is opposing him.
Creak. Creak. Creeeeaaaaaaak.
Frowning, Officer Gomez turns from his coffee find the source of the sound. His eyes widen as he realizes that the Vault door is opening. The various locks are unlocking, many gears are turning, and slowly, the Vault door is raising.
For a few moments Officer Gomez is simply stunned. Then the alarm bell sounds and the room glows a dark red, snapping him into action. The officer has no idea how the Vault opens, but he knows that it's his duty to keep whatever is knocking on the Vault door outside. No exceptions. Grimly, Officer raises him gun, ready to shoot.
At first the bright light from the outside blinds him. It's been so long since he'd seen actual sunlight. It almost makes him wish that it wasn't James, but himself that had left the Vault. Squinting his eyes, Gomez can make out a shape, but its features aren't defined.
"Gomez? Is that you old buddy?"
"No fucking way," Gomez breathes, lowering his weapon. How long has it been since he's heard that voice? Ages it seems like, but its changed, Jayden sounds more like James now. Gomez grins and walks up to his old friend. Just like old times, except...
Dropping his smile, Gomez remembers the trouble that the Vault's in. Nervously, he glances around, making sure that the other guards aren't in the immediate vicinity. It wouldn't do for him to get caught with the Vault open. Who knows what the Overseer might do.
"Something wrong?" Jayden asks casually. Gomez can tell that he's only trying to act nonchalant. He can tell that Jayden's been through hell out in the Wasteland. Something terrible has happened to him, and it's haunting him.
"Jayden, you shouldn't have come back. It's... it's dangerous here, for all of us. Leave now, while you have the chance. It's best for all of us," Gomez says, avoiding eye contact.
All Jayden can do is shake his head. "I've already come this far Gomez, I'm not turning back. Besides, Amata's expecting me." Jayden can't help but grin a little at the mention of Amata. After venting out all his sadness and anger through the holotape outside the Vault, he's feeling strangely... light. Light, carefree, and happy. Maybe all he needed was an outlet. Something that he could talk to, something that could do what Lucas did; listen. Surprisingly, that something was a recording device.
"Well, I'll be damned. Amata called for you? Then you must know what's going on in the Vault," Gomez reasons. He's watching Jayden carefully. There's something different about him, and Gomez isn't sure if he trusts it.
"I know most of what happened, and I don't care how dangerous it might be. I've handled a lot worse than a couple of Vault guards out in the Wasteland."
Gomez smiles sheepishly. He knows that he has no chance fighting against Jayden. There's no way that he could overpower him, and he just doesn't have it in him to kill him with a single gunshot. "Alright then. Do you want to go see Amata?"
"Hell yeah. It's been too long since I've seen her."
"Come on then, let's go, before the other guards notice," Gomez says, motioning for Jayden to walk with him. Now that he's out of the sunlight Gomez can tell that he's changed, physically at least. Jayden's bigger, stronger, and he walks with more confidence. The Wastelander clothing suits him better than the Vault jumpsuit the Overseer forced everyone to wear. It seems more natural.
They climb the stairs slowly, careful not to make any noise. It wouldn't do for the other guards to catch them. Finally they're up the stairs and into the atrium. There are more bodies here, more signs of trouble.
"How... how many died?" Jayden asks hesitantly. He's not sure if he really wants to hear the answer. These were the only people he ever knew for 19 years.
Officer Gomez stops and looks at the bodies. There's pain in his features, Jayden can tell. "Around four people died when you first left, and just recently there were five more deaths. The Overseer sees this as a unpleasant step to achieving peace in the Vault. Some peace this is," Gomez spits.
"Now now, who are you to be questioning the great Overseer?"
Jayden and Gomez whirl around to face the voice. Officer Wilkins stands over Steve Armstrong's dead body. He's bleeding heavily, but only half dead. "Jayden?" Steve croaks.
"Shut the fuck up maggot. Rebels like you deserve to die. It's because of you people that family isn't here with me today!" Wilkins snarls, stepping on Steve's back and aiming the gun down on his head. A quick gunshot and Steve is done.
"Now... Jayden. Your back!" Wilkins exclaims, waving his pistol erratically. There's a maniacal look in his eyes, the look of someone who has lost it all.
"Wilkins, Jayden didn't cause your family's death. Please. Don't do this," Gomez begs.
Wilkins stares at them coldly, training his gun on Jayden. "Gomez. You have no idea how it feels to lose someone close to you. Someone that you cared about. This stupid kid and his father ruined everything that I had. My brother Jim, gone. My wife Janice, gone. Janice was pregnant Gomez. Did you know that? Huh? Well now you do. So don't fucking judge me. I'm just serving justice."
Jayden looks at Wilkins with a newfound perspective. He lost everything as well. Wilkins lost a brother, Jayden killed his best friend. Wilkins lost his unborn child, Jayden lost his father. Wilkins lost his wife, Jayden's on the brink of losing Amata.
"The fuck are you staring at? You think I'm crazy? Well maybe I am. But that doesn't change the fact that I want you-"
"Wilkins. Stand down."
A shiver runs down Jayden's spine. Even now he remembers that voice. Sometimes it still haunts him in his nightmares, more so than all the Super Mutants he's ever faced. It's the voice that killed Jonas. It's the voice that almost killed him. It's the voice that just saved him.
The Overseer stands just outside his office, looking down on Jayden, as if he's unsure of what to do with him. After what seems like an eternity of waiting, the Overseer breaks the silence. "Welcome home Jayden. We have a lot of talking to do."
Guys, please review! My main purpose of writing this fanfic is getting better as a writer, and I need feedback to do it! Thanks a bunch!
Edbert