Prologue

I remember lying down on my bed that evening, it was the third week to the noises, and we were all on edge. The Brain, and Buster were sitting around our room, one was busy calculating, while the other was lifting dumbbells.

I never did get used to Buster's new physique.

Cooped up in the vault wasn't good for my best friend, he became anxious, almost claustrophobic. At some point I suggest going to the gym, as it was the largest, most spacious room in the vault. There were the dining and conference halls, but those were jam packed with chairs and tables, hardly room to move around. Wouldn't you know it, Buster agreed, but only if I'd come with him. I obliged, and we went regularly three times a week.

But after a while, I guess, it wasn't enough for Buster, what he lacked in brains, he more than made up for in brawn, and was now easily the strongest person in the vault, buffed up like a Californian governor in his prime, he had been like an enforcer, making sure none of the others fooled around, we needed to stick together in this.

Brain became the organizational mind behind it all, fairly and evenly taking charge of schedules, chores, and many other aspects. His work made our life a lot easier, he was great friend, and also a great asset.

"We need to do something about that." I remember Buster's comment as the banging started off again in the distance, not loud enough to disturb us.

"I'm afraid there's not much to do, unless you can convince Mr. Armstrong to send someone out to investigate." Brain replied, I remember chuckling at that, the mere notion of leaving the vault was ridiculous back then.

"Don't worry Buster, I'm sure whatever it is will get bored and leave eventually." I said, straightening up and stretching, I hated being cooped up in the evenings. Still do.

Buster smirked, "If we can get B-boy's voice outside, it will die of boredom for sure." He stung, obviously referring to the field-mouse's terribly long monologues.

"Amusing, seems like you've finally reached fourth grade humor Baxter, congratulations." Alan "The Brain" replied casually, not even bothering to stop typing on the shared computer.

Buster rolled his eyes at me and I grinned back, I loved it when they took turns outwitting each other, kept their minds sharp, and was funny to behold. One of the two things that really made me smile back then.

The other had just entered through the door, to Buster's dismay.

"Hey, ever heard of knocking?" He called at the door.

"Sure kid, good luck with that." She replied, pointedly saying something unrelated to express her disinterest in what he had to say.

"Ignore me will ya… you crazy chicks are…. Think ye're all that…." Buster rumbled to himself, "I'm gonna shower, and I'm coming out naked, so you'd better not still be here by then." He said, retreating behind the wall of the shower part of the room, throwing his clothes out at his bed.

"I'm not worried, without a magnifying glass I don't think I'm in any danger of seeing something I don't want to." She replied, and Alan quickly let out a laugh.

"Good one, Macdonald." He said, mock saluting her.

"Can't you rabbits get along, Molly?" I asked, she gave me an incredulous look behind her long front bangs.

Molly and I had been friends long before the war, but it was down here where we became closer. She had grown into a fine young woman, athletic, beautiful, and leader of the Vault's very own group of "thugs", The "Tough Customers" I always thought that ripped jeans jacket over the tight vault suit made her hotter than any nuclear meltdown. She was still taller than me, though, I didn't really like feeling short next to her, but it grew on me, really. I liked what she did with her hair, she let it grow longer, keeping it loose, but leaving the front bangs as well, so her eyes were hardly ever visible. She had a rare genetic trait, since one of her distant parents was an albino, so she was born with red eyes, a one-in-a-million chance, so she always hid them behind her hair.

"Oh, we get along just fine, it's a rabbit thing…An aardvark like yourself wouldn't understand, very intricate subtext…" her smile broadened as she tried to keep herself from laughing.

"Okay, okay, no more jokes on his expense…" She said, "Unless he starts." I nodded helplessly, and she chuckled at me, leaning over and lightly pecking me on the lips, then it hit me.

"Oh, the banging's near the girl dorms!" I called out suddenly, startling her.

She flicked my nose painfully in retaliation. "Yeah, on my wall, actually, what a racket. Prunella said she divined it was some sort of big lizard monster with horns." She let out a small laugh disguised in a cough, "Said that while in trance she could see claws, horns and teeth."

"Well, you never know what's going on out there, the radiation might have made a monster or two appear." I shrugged.

"Actually, Arthur, radiation would only actually create radical 'huge monster' phenomenon over several successful generations of creatures. If they all survive, and if they are not sterile, as this amount of radiation is likely to cause." Brain interjected I shrugged again, not really caring. I had already made my opinion known. I believed it was a group of survivors, begging for a place of shelter, but not realizing how to get to the front entrance.

I sat up on the bed so Molly could sit next to me, and hugged her close, as the door slid open, and wouldn't you know it, my little sister came through.

"Hey Molly," She greeted, Molly returned a nod, Dora Winifred Read, now fifteen. I had to admit to myself, if the nuclear war had done one thing that was good, was bring my sister around from the obnoxious and annoying person she was, to the sister I have today.

We pretty much stuck together when we first entered the vault, she was scared, and she kept around me all of the time. Her behavior mellowed, and soon she and her friend Emily became the leaders of their own clique in the younger groups.

"What's up D.W?" I asked, and then remembered her room was right across from Molly's. "Banging got you scared?" She harrumphed.

"I'm not scared," She complained, "It's just creeping me out, that's all. What're you GAH!" She suddenly screamed, I think my ears bled, she fled out of the room in a hurry, and for just one moment, a steel-cold fear gripped me, and my imagination raced as an image of Prunella's monster pounced at us.

"Bah! Not only you've got her here, now your sister!" Buster called angrily, desperately searching for his towel, his face flushed red.

The banging hadn't stopped until late at night, with the doors closed we hardly heard it in the boys' dormitories. D.W. returned eventually, along with Emily, several of her friends. We were also joined by Francine, Sue-Ellen and Fern, so we gave a try at a slumber party, in two words, great success.

By morning, we were all asleep, Buster's face was full of toothpaste, and all were happy and content. It was later that noon when a message was heard throughout the vault intercom. Overseer Armstrong spoke through the speakers in his usual confident voice.

"Good day residents, an assembly will be held in the Conference Hall in twenty minutes, all vault residents are required to arrive. Good day residents."

Whispering started throughout the entire hallway, "Hey!" I called, "We've got the pipes, electric system AND a battery leak to fix, and instead of two hours, we have twenty minutes to do it, so I suggest we get to work!" No one argued, and twenty minutes later, we were at the conference hall, job completed at record time.

"Good day residents." Mr. Armstrong said, standing at the edge of the room, microphone in hand. Everyone went silent, and he continued, "I am sure you are all worried about the loud noises we've been suffering from recently." A murmur of agreement rippled throughout the hall. "After much consideration, we have decided to send a security team outside of the Vault, to see for ourselves what is out there, and should it be a pest, or anyone wishing us harm, to chase it away. The taskforce is voluntary, and all able men may join, volunteers should come see me once we're done, I'll be waiting here. The taskforce will leave tomorrow morning, you may all come and send them off, if you please. Good day residents."

At least it was short, and concise.

If only… if only we had know, if only we could have imagined what the next day would look like…

It would be the second great trauma in my life, a day that will haunt me for the rest of my life…

To be continued…