Well here's the next chapter, Tyler has been working in the programming department for a few years now and he's working on a new prototype Pip-Boy...
Chapter 3: And this is how I met Buddy
"Tyler! Lights off!" Dad was starting to get angry. It was going on 2 in the morning and I was still working on the new device.
"Come on Dad, this is important! I'm almost done for the night, just leave me alone to work!" I shouted back. "And I'm 19 years old I can do what I want, I'm practically an adult!"
"As long as you live with me you are not an adult, you still listen to my rules. I am your father and I should be treated as such," Dad argued back.
Dad gave me a difficult ultimatum. I figured moving out would be somewhat hard to do, seeing as how there really isn't anywhere else to live.
"Fine... I'm going to bed," I finally decided. I got up and activated the switch closing the door of my room, and got out of my vault-suit.
"Guess I'll have to finish this tomorrow," I said, turning my lamp off.
I had a lot on my mind, these last few days had been busy for me. What with starting the creation of my new invention, and that special time of the month that Amata was having. The anger, the crying, all the mixed signals... I was really glad guys didn't have to go through all that crap.
I also had something else on my mind. Something I had never thought about before. The outside world, what exactly had happened over the past 200 years that wasn't in the history books? Were there other people besides vault-dwellers? I had so many questions, and I had no idea where they had come from. And I had no idea who could tell me the answers. I would have to look in the library for old scouting records or something that could give me information.
The slow, warm feeling of sleep embraced me and I was out like a light.
"You have to get out of here, go, run!" I could hear Dad's voice, but I couldn't see anything.
Then I was suddenly in some sort of science lab, with a circular glass column in the center and a number pad in front of it. There was a glass bulkhead door in front of me that I couldn't get opened, and on the other side I could see Dad on the ground. He wasn't moving. There were a few other figures on the other side but I couldn't make out their faces.
"James, I... I can't believe he's gone," A lady standing next to me quietly spoke. I had never seen her before in my life, and all I was focused on was getting to my Dad.
"Come on, there's no time and we should get going before more of them come!" Her voice was urgent but I had no idea where we were or what was happening. Where was I? Who was this lady? What happened to Dad? Questions bounced around my head like electrons in an atom, and I was determined to find the answers.
The corners of my vision were fading to black and I couldn't hear anymore, finally I couldn't see and I awoke in a cold sweat.
My eyes shot open and my upper body launched forward, I was alone, in my room. I looked at the clock on my Pip-Boy and almost pissed myself.
"NOON! FUCK!" I shouted. I was late to work and Stanley wouldn't be too happy, because, let's just say I didn't exactly have a perfect attendance record. I threw on a vault-suit from my dresser, grabbed my prototype off my desk and then and darted out the door.
"Shit shit shit shit I'm so screwed!" I thought out loud. I burst into the reactor room to find Stanley asleep in his office. Thank God.
I set down the prototype Pip-Boy on my desk in the corner and began to work. If this worked...
"Tyler? That you?" I could hear Stanley groggily ask from his office.
"Yeah, it's me Stanley, you uh, dozed off for a few hours, I decided just to get to work on my prototype and let you rest." I lied.
"Oh ok well we have a lot of work to do, you can work on that later," He said pointing to the Pip-Boy. "We need to clean the water filters, adjust the vault door camera..." Stanley listed off various duties and chores that needed to be done around the vault.
"Ok, I'll go adjust the camera, be back in a sec," I told him.
I had adjusted the camera at least once or twice, it's not like I didn't know what I was doing, but it was strange seeing the rocks and dirt outside the door. There were also a few skeletons with picket signs that didn't exactly have the nicest messages on them.
All I had to do was take the old recording chip out, archive it, then put a new one in. The Overseer demanded that ALL recording chips be archived so his team could view and analyze them. I don't know why, the only thing on them was dirt, rocks, a little more dirt, dust, more rocks, did I say dirt already?
Anyways, there was nothing special about these chips, it was a waste of time.
But today, there was something new outside the tunnel. Something strange. It looked like some sort of, 4 legged creature, with pointed ears and a fat tongue hanging out of a long slender mouth. And its body was a light color, almost furry looking, and I couldn't tell what the hell this thing was!
"I wonder..." I planned out the situation in my head, I could hack into the vault door computer and open the door, but then the guards would come running and throw me in the stockades, or I could leave this strange being outside because who knows, it could be dangerous, but it is a living thing.
"You there, boy," I could hear a man yell. "What are you doing near the vault door?"
"Oh, Stanley sent me to adjust the door camera, and there's something strange outside. Take a look," I explained, beckoning him towards the monitor screen.
He strolled over and took a quick glance at the screen and then called a few orders in on his radio.
3 more guards came into the room with guns and batons. Were they going to... no no, they're security officers for Christ's sakes, they won't kill a possibly innocent creature!
"You're going to have to leave now boy, we have this under control," the first guard told me. I agreed and walked out into the atrium, but I kept an eye out to see what they were doing. A loud grinding noise like nails on a chalkboard erupted from the vault door as it was pulled back and slowly rolled to the side.
"Keep your guns trained on it!" one guard shouted.
The creature made a strange noise from its mouth, like a growl, but it sounded playful, and friendly. Why would someone want to hurt this thing? I couldn't let this happen, I needed to figure out a way to stop this. I looked around to find some sort of distraction, a fire extinguisher was on the wall. I ran over and picked it up, nozzle ready with my hand on the lever. I had to do this quick, and I had to get away even quicker.
I ducked down and duck-walked over to the wall near the vault door so the guards couldn't see me, but I could definitely see them.
"Should we take this to the Overseer or just kill it right here?" One guard asked.
"Just kill the little shit, and do it quick I ain't got all day," Another snapped.
I had to act now.
I sprayed the extinguisher all around their faces and eyes until it emptied and then I turned it around and slammed it into 2 of their heads. The other one saw what was happening and cocked his pistol, aiming it at my head, but the small creature jumped up and clenched its teeth on his wrist, forcing him to drop the gun. This gave me just enough time to hit him over his head. All 3 were unconscious.
"Thanks for that, whatever you are," I looked down at the strange being.
Silence... Well at least I knew this thing couldn't talk to me, but I think it could understand what I was saying. I looked down at the three bodies, I had checked their pulses and none of them were dead, just temporarily knocked out. And not for long, seeing as how their helmets took most of the blow. These kinds of people didn't belong in the vault, I had to make sure they wouldn't come back in. Making sure they were still out of it, I dragged them one at a time to the old wooden door at the end of the cave and leaned them up against it, but just as I walked back inside the vault and started to close the door, one of them was starting to come to.
"Ughhh, what happened... Shit! Don't close that door!" he shouted with unimaginable fear. He almost made it back in, but got a face full of vault door. I looked down at the creature that was now curled up on the ground next to me.
"What am I supposed to do with you?" I asked it. "And what are you anyways?"
It looked up at me and started panting with its ears folded back...which looked to me like he was excited.
"Well whatever you are, you're coming along with me back to my room, you need to stay out of anyone's sight."
I led the creature back to the reactor room, stopping at every corner to make sure the coast was clear, then whistling for it to follow. It was such an obedient being, especially for the outside world, I guess maybe the Overseer was wrong and there are SOME decent things outside...
"Tyler? What the hell is that?" a voice worriedly asked from behind me. Shit. I was busted. Turning around I saw it was just Amata, but she didn't look happy.
"What is this thing? Why is in the vault? Why is it covered in dust and grime?" a million answers flowed out of Amata's mouth but I only gave one short answer.
"I don't know." I simply stated.
"What do you mean you don't know? It could be dangerous! Or it could have disease!" More nagging.
Amata was definitely still going through her monthly cycle from all her constant bitchiness.
"Amata, just look, it seems harmless enough, and it sure is friendly," I wanted to tell her about what happened at the vault door, but couldn't.
"Tyler, sometimes I just don't get you..." her voice dropped to a one of confusion and resentment. Another mood swing. Just walk away Tyler.
I looked around the corner and didn't see anyone so I turned and brought the creature along.
"What! What the hell Tyler! You can't just walk away when we're in the middle of a conversation-" I zoned her out. I had one thing on my mind and one thing only. Finding out what this thing was, and what I should do with it.
I made it to my room and locked the being in there, then walked down to the vault library.
"Vanessa, do you know about any books about creatures from before the war?" I asked the librarian.
Vanessa was the vault librarian, she was 5 years older than me but looked 5 years younger. She was a short, petite girl, with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes, traits not so common in the vault. If I didn't have a thing with Amata I would definitely be after Vanessa.
"Why yes Tyler, actually right over here there are a few encyclopedias, I'm sure one of them will have something of use to you," she said with a smile. Those perfect white teeth...no, I was with Amata, I shouldn't be thinking about other girls.
"Thanks Vanessa," I quickly spoke, turning to look at the encyclopedias.
"You're welcome Tyler, and let me know if there's anything else you need," She smiled again. Anything else I needed? Was she flirting with me? I think she was. Quick, say something.
"Uhhh, umm.. I uh.." What the fuck was going on? Why couldn't I talk? She had a confused look on her face and she rolled her eyes at me.
I went back to the books and found one on land mammals. Okay...now pictures...pictures...ah!
"Dog..." I thought out loud.
"I'm sorry?" Vanessa asked, confused again.
"Oh, I found what I needed, thanks, can I check this out?" I asked her.
"Of course, and is there anything else you'd like to check out today?" Was she flirting again? Say something Tyler!
"I have a girlfriend." Was the only thing I could think of. Standing there in total loss and confusion, Vanessa tilted her head as if to ask, "Huh?", but I left before she could say anything.
She totally wants me.
I made it back to my room and sat on my bed, which apparently became the being's bed now as well. I opened the encyclopedia to the page about dogs and read: Dog, a 4 legged hairy creature of many different breeds, sizes, and origins. Dogs range from an average of 10-150 pounds depending on breed, and live an average lifespan of 15 years. House dogs live off of water, dry or wet food, and are not meant to eat human food.
That was enough information for now, but I couldn't figure out what kind of dog this was, the only kinds it showed were, German Sheppards, Beagles, and Dalmatians. But one thing was certain, this dog was a boy...
I needed a book primarily for dogs, but I hoped the library wouldn't be awkward for Vanessa with me being there.
I walked back to the library and Vanessa looked surprised.
"Well look who it is, the guy with the girlfriend," she smirked.
"Right, sorry about that I've been having a lot on my mind lately, I just need a book on dogs, if you have one," I calmly replied.
"Dogs? What would be the point of learning about those dirty little things," She had obviously read some things about them.
"Nevermind, I can find it myself," I stated. I looked under "D" and found a book called "Dogs, Man's Best Friend." This would do.
"I need to check this out right away," I quickly spoke.
"Tyler, you are some piece of work. What is going on with you?" She still had that look of confusion.
"I can't explain now, I just need this book," I demanded.
"Nope, not until you tell me what the hell is going on with you and these...dogs?" She was hardballing me. I saw past those blue eyes for long enough to talk to her but they caught me once again. Damn.
"Uhhh I umm...found...a dog..." I slowly responded, still hypnotized by her gaze. She was beauti-no, no, no, I was with...ughh what was her name...Amata, right I was with Amata. I couldn't fantasize about Vanessa and I taking a hot, steamy bath together, with candles and an aroma of vanilla in the air...Stop! Snap out of it!
"Really? Can I see it?" She asked, with a tone of curiosity in her voice.
"I uh, don't think that would be a good idea..." I quietly told her.
"No dog, no book," She gave me a difficult decision.
"Fine come with me," I said and saw her face light up. She followed me back to my room and her eyes got wide at the sight of the dog.
"I thought you thought dogs were dirty little creatures?" I asked, seeing her now, leaning down and scratching the dog's head.
"Well they seemed much more...vicious in the books. I never thought they could be playful little pets!" She was cooing at him and rubbing his belly as if he was a baby.
"He is so cute, did you name him yet? Every dog needs a name!" She exclaimed.
I hadn't really thought about that. What were some dog names...?
"I don't know, what do you think his name should be?" I consulted her.
"Hmmmm, I'd say Rover, or Spike would be good, they were popular pre-war dog names," She said in that "matter-of-fact" tone of voice. I didn't like either of those names, so I went with something more friendly.
"How about Buddy?" I said.
Well that marks the end of chapter 3, we meet Vanessa, one of Tyler's obvious crushes, and Buddy, his new dog. Sorry about the wait, I had a lot of stuff going on but I will try to finish up chapter 4 soon.