Hands digging into my hair I shut my eyes, today was the day... Yet another scouting party would be condemned to go out into the wilds on some mission to find this Holy Land that the overseer speaks of. I could feel my heart hammering in my chest at the thought. How could one possibly continue to waste lives so frivolously? The people sent out there had families, lovers, friends who sat in the vault waiting. Praying for their return, and up there on his pedestal, the overseer acted as though none of that mattered. Opening my eyes again I looked at the memorial that had been made to cement those who had given their lives and journeyed out into the wastes. For the past 8 years' group, after group have marched out into the wastes, all they had were the clothes on their back, a sack of food, and their trusty pip-boy. It wasn't till three years prior that some had been permitted the use of weapons.

My sister was one of those who had been chosen for the scouting party... It's been a year since I'd seen her face, despite us being twins we couldn't be more different. Where her hair was akin to a brunette color, mines was black. While she was adored by the inhabitants of the vault I was despised or ignored. Where she was the favorite, I could've been the red-headed step child. Yet even then we shared the same green eyes. She was still my sister, and was the closest thing I had to a best friend on top of that. None ever thought me and Serah could be related much less twins, but it didn't matter to me. I knew the truth.

Hand reaching out I touched the picture devoted to her on the memorial. "I'm coming, I don't care what they say. The overseer can kick me out for all I care, but I'm coming to find you. I know you're still out there, I can feel it." I couldn't risk others hearing me so my voice never rose above a whisper. Before I knew it, I felt two streams of liquid falling down my cheeks. My heart ached, my head hurt. Was this how it felt to have your heartbroken? There was no one else... When I had been brought into this hazardous world, my father left not even a year later. His toll had come due and he passed away. My mother was much the same, she couldn't stand it when Serah left, it was almost as if she had given up on living.

"I hope you're both watching, this time I'll make you proud. I'll find Serah, I'll discover Orlando, and I will lead our people to it." Raising my head, I gave one final sniff. Now wasn't the time for tears. It was the time for action. Looking up over the memorial and to the window that overlooked the main dining area of the vault I saw the Overseer's chambers. Soon he'd be debriefing the next scouting party, but I needed to talk to him before that. I needed to be on that team. No matter what.

Turning I bumped straight into someone who was slightly taller than me. Their body was a mountain of muscle, they had nearly knocked me off my feet as they pushed back against me. "Get off me" Hands reaching out I was able to keep upright by using the memorial for support. I wasn't out of shape, but neither was I some meathead who spent all their time working out. "What are you doing Nik? Crying again?! I've never met any man who was as much of a bitch." Said the all too familiar voice. The voice alone set a flame in my heart. A flame that threatened to consume me, I wanted nothing more than to bash this persons' skull in. Since day one of starting school he'd bullied me, at every turn undermined me, even now that we were both twenty he hadn't ceased the shenanigans. He was tall, standing at about six foot three, his hair a neat blonde and combed back. His eyes a bright blue. Hitler would have a wet dream about this man. His name you ask? Aaron.

"I don't have time for you or your antics Aaron," I said trying to skirt around the individual for him to step in my path once again.

"What you can't even look me in the eyes anymore?"

"I'd rather not, I'd rather not lose any more brain cells talking to you than I already have." My voice came out clear, clear enough for all those within the cafeteria to hear. Those who didn't dislike me simply didn't care, but the insult was something that was new. I was tired of being bullied. Tired of being beneath Aaron's thumb. Fists tightening, I prepared to swing on him.

"Da fuck you say?!" Aaron asked his two meaty hands rose grasping my vault jumper. I could feel the fabric stretching as he then pushed me backward into the wall. "You think you're brave? Think that just because you're one of the vaults eggheads that you can't be beaten? Don't worry I'll fix that for you!"

"Aaron! Drop him!" This voice came from across the cafeteria and was clear as day. I knew this one just as well as I did Aaron's yet I did not despise this person. Nor had she ever done anything mean to me. Amarita, a brown skinned beauty. Between her and Serah most of the younger male occupants were kept busy. Amarita's eyes were a shade of amber, one unlike any others in the vault and even in the Vault-Tec jumper she still drew stares from those who sat down eating. One man off to the right was even slapped by his wife. "You were looking for a fight with him, and this is not the time. We have to get ready."

Looking past Aaron at me with a look of disinterest Amarita nodded her head for me to leave. "Get out of here, before I change my mind," Aaron growled, stuffing his hands into his jumper Aaron went to Amarita leaving me alone.

I wanted to thank Amarita, my mind going as fast as a freight train yet no words came to mind. I needed to say something, anything would be better than standing there looking dumbfounded. "Thanks," I mumbled though it seemed I had missed my chance as neither her nor Aaron were in the cafeteria. The tension that had filled the air was now gone and those within the cafeteria simply returned to their meals no longer interested in me.

Despite no one looking in my direction, I felt as though everyone was watching me. Why was that? Why did they care what I do? Scoffing I made my way out of the cafeteria and into the halls of the vault. The steel walls were freshly painted and the floors waxed. So much so I could see my reflection in the cool steel. Every part of the vault looked the same if I'm being completely honest. Large metallic doors that separated the numerous chambers, staircases in every other corridor that led to the upper or lower levels. The facility itself always smelt like disinfectant spray. One would think that it would be easy to navigate such a place when you spent your entire life living there, but how wrong they were. Even I still got turned around at times, especially when trying to get to the Overseer's office.

Standing outside the door I straightened my jumper. Looking into the steel door I saw my black hair was messed, strands of it sticking up others smoothed down. Rubbing my hands through it I tried to smooth it down to no avail. With a sigh, I raised my hand prepared to knock but before I could do so the door slid open revealing the Overseer's office.

The closest thing I could compare the Overseer's office to was the office of a principal that we saw in films. There were no pictures that adorned the walls, on the left-hand side of the room there were lockers filled with... Well quite honestly, I didn't know. Perhaps files on the current and past occupants of the vault? On the right a large sturdy steel case, now that. I knew what was inside of it. A set of personal arms for the Overseer to make use of in case of emergencies. In the center of the room was a large wooden desk on it numerous terminals with storage chips spread haphazardly across its surface. Behind in desk sat Overseer Teague.

Teague was the latest Overseer to look over Vault 84. It was almost like the title of Overseer was a title of heredity as only those of the Teague line had been tasked with the oversight of the Vault and its occupants. Teague was a man approaching his late fifties, his hair, or what little remained was graying. His beard more so. Beneath his eyes were dark circles from a lack of sleep and his eyes bloodshot. Behind him, on a nightstand, a radio sat playing a classical sonata. Without even raising his head from the terminals
Teague waved me in before swiftly activating the door.

Right hand reaching up Teague pinched the bridge of his long, hooked nose. "What is it now Nikolas? Is this about a lack of supplies in the lab?"

"No." Opening my mouth to give my reasoning for being there I was cut off as Teague continued on asking questions.

"Is there a problem with the water chip for our reservoir?"

"N-"

"Then what is it, boy?! Spit it out! I don't have all day."

"Well, sir this is actually about the scouting party..." Stopping I waited to see if Teague would interrupt me again. After a few seconds, I continued on. "I'd like to join the scouting party on their mission. It's been a year since my sister left, and I feel it is my duty. No, my responsibility to go retrieve her."

Breathing heavily Teague sat back in his chair and looked up at me. His hands steeped in his lap as his eyes looked me up and down. "I'm sorry son, the scouting parties were three months ago. They've been trained already. You are lacking such training, you're not prepared to go out there."

"But Aaron Jaquar is?! He could barely pass his GOAT exam! I passed it with flying colors! I've been studying about the Gulf Commonwealth since I was old enough to read! I know about the cities out there!"

"That was pre-war knowledge! Quite frankly no one knows what's out there besides swamp! All those cities could've been consumed by the swamp or even inhabited by raiders, and only god knows what else!"

"Yet you still waste lives sending people looking for Orlando?! Why?"

Hands slapping down onto his desk, pale skin now bright red Teague rose from his seat. "We are running out of food, we are literally drinking our own piss though you'd never be able to tell. Our people are tired of being cooped up! If there is any hope for those rumors being true of Orlando surviving the bombs dropping I will risk anything for us to reach it. Anyone... Even if it meant myself."

"Then risk me!"

"I can't do that. We need you here, what if something were to go wrong with the Vault in your absence? There are only three individuals who can even comprehend the electronics that keep this facility alive."

"But"

"Enough buts! My decision has been made. Return to your quarters, Mr. Maller!"

I wanted to say more, but even I knew when to not push my luck. From between clenched teeth, I answered. "Yes, sir." The response was sharp, the rage was evident in how I said the words. As I walked away I could feel Teague's eyes in the center of my back. Leaving the office, I waited for it to shut before I began the march back to my quarters. My hands were clenched so tight that I felt the sharp bite of my own nails as they dug into my palms. "I don't need your approval, I don't need anyone's approval," I mumbled to myself head bowed low so none could see the tears in my eyes. These weren't tears of sadness, they were or sheer hatred and rage. The fire within me burned like a nova as the decision was made. The die cast.

I returned to my chambers within were two beds. One had once been Serah's, between them a nightstand and on it a picture of our family. Sitting on the bed I looked at the picture a finger reaching out to stroke Serah's cheek. "I'm coming." Reaching a hand beneath my bunk I pulled out a bag. One stuffed with enough ration bars to last me a month, with a few extra jumpers and even a homemade laser musket with a few power cells. The lab wouldn't miss them too much... At least I hoped they wouldn't. Shrugging on the pack I cast one more look to the portrait. Sliding the picture out of its casing I folded it and tucked it within my robes. I was ready...