Hubris Comic Issue 2-Journey
Between his studies and newly created workout routine, Gabriel managed to enhance his physical and mental stats a fair bit. He would occasionally get dirty looks from other vault dwellers, and the Tunnel Snakes, but that didn't stop him from improving and now after so much time. Gabriel was more than ready for the Vault Olympics.
Gabriel woke up early in the morning and got dressed and prepared with a few stretches before he made his way to the atrium. Sure enough, several things have been moved around and changed for the event that will take place all over the vault. This first event is a sprint all over the vault floors, without having access to the elevators.
The contenders each took a spot in front of the designated starting line, as the Overseer spoke over the PA system, that was playing intense classical music.
"Greetings vault dwellers. This is the starting day of the Vault Olympics, and it certainly brings in a crowd. This day is to see who among us, has the grit and ability needed to teach, inspire and motivate the next generation of vault dwellers." Overseer Alphonse said with what sounded like pride, however people like Gabriel and Amata knew he was faking it.
"Look at this. Little Gabe decided to join the Olympics, how cute." An all too familiar voice said as Gabriel stopped stretching near the starting zone and turned around to see Butch and standing behind him are Wally and Paul.
The Tunnel Snakes.
"Leave me alone Butch. I'm trying to focus." Gabriel said with a sigh. His job taught him patience, but the Tunnel Snakes drain it out of him. Probably because they make his life and Amata's hell at every given chance.
"So, you think because you got a little bit of exercise, that you can compete against us? Well, it looks like you need to be reminded of your place." Butch said with a cocky and arrogant attitude.
"I bet he'll give up after five minutes of running." Paul said with a chuckle. Gabriel hated Paul the most; Paul was a pretender, a person who pretends to be nice, only to stab you in the back. Gabriel learned that at his tenth birthday party.
"That's too nice Paul. He might have had an accident or something when nobody was looking. So, maybe he can make it more than five minutes before dropping out." Wally said with his own twisted smile.
Gabriel paid the group no mind, as they left to their own starting positions. Soon enough, the Vault Olympics started, and Gabriel was one of the vault dwellers who started off slow, those who ran out of energy too fast usually burn out fast.
In any case, Gabriel ran through this floor of the vault, jumping over small hurdles and avoiding hitting his head against the ceiling. Running through the halls any other time would be frowned upon, but Gabriel didn't complain, he only pressed on with his controlled run.
The skill [Sprint] has leveled up! Level: 12-13
Gabriel ignored the screen alert before avoiding some floor traps, not included in the event. They were toy cars and trucks, and from the corner of his eye. Gabriel saw the culprit was Freddie Gomez; Freddie didn't see Gabriel though and stayed left into a room to hide and probably get more traps.
Gabriel felt a tick mark form on his head and an angry sneer across his face. However, thanks to his focus, training and speed boosts from his skill and its levels. Gabriel finished the first part of the Vault Olympics, and he even came in first place, surprising everyone.
"Gabriel, you did it." Amata said with a cheer, as she quickly moved towards Gabriel with a smile on her face, as other contestants finished the race as well.
"I did but I almost got hurt. The Tunnel Snakes put up a few traps for runners." Gabriel said honestly as Amata's cheerfulness vanished from her face.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Amata asked in a sour voice, without actually asking Gabriel for a real answer.
"Because their jerks. Now, I've got time before the next event. So, I'm heading to the cafeteria to get some water. Are you coming with me?" Gabriel asked her as she chuckled.
"Sure. It's not like I have anything else to do." Amata replied before the duo made their way to the cafeteria. However, they didn't know or realize that they were being watched by the rat called Freddie Gomez, who'd started following them.
"All I've got to do is stop Gabriel from competing. Then, Butch will make me a Tunnel Snake." Freddie said to himself with a smile.
Now, after getting some bottled water and a snack, the duo sat in one of the booths of the diner style cafeteria and simply indulged in small talk. Amata asked about how Gabriel got in shape so fast, and how he seemed to just keep getting better. However, Gabriel couldn't exactly tell his best friend that he suddenly got videogame powers out of nowhere.
Hell, telling Amata that he had powers at all would be crazy. Why would she believe him if he told her that he'd developed powers?
"Natural talent I guess?" Gabriel replied and Amata didn't seem to buy it, but she left it alone. She knew Gabriel would talk when he was good and ready.
"The other events are going to be coming up soon? How do you think you'll do?" Amata asked honestly, while Gabriel took a long drink of his purified water before speaking.
"Hopefully I'll do my best and avoid any other mishaps." Gabriel said before he suddenly felt a bit dizzy and noticed two things.
His water looked a tiny bit cloudy, and Freddie had suddenly ran out of the diner with one of the Mr. Handy robots asking why, after he helped them in the kitchen.
"Shit." Gabriel cursed before tossing his water away and saw a new screen appear in front of him.
You have developed the skill [Drug Resistance]!
You have been afflicted with [Narcotics]!
Gabriel tried to stand up and run after him, but his body felt heavy, and Amata quickly got up and helped him to his feet.
"Gabriel what's wrong?" Amata asked with clear concern.
"Freddie. He drugged the water." Gabriel said weakly before shaking his head a bit to try and focus up and stay standing.
"That bastard." Amata said in rage.
"Take me to the counter." Gabriel said as Amata helped him get closer to the diner counter, where they had originally ordered their food. "Give me a stimulant."
"Sir I have to ask for your proper age and identification before I can grant your request." The robot asked, and Gabriel showed him the proper information on his Pip-Boy. Thankfully the robot complied and went into the kitchen for a bit before returning with a small pill bottle.
Gabriel read the directions before opening the bottle and swallowed one of the pills to try and counteract the effects he was feeling.
"Amata, I'll be fine. Just help me make it back, before the next event starts." Gabriel said and soon enough he felt the effects of the stimulant kick in. Amata kept the bottle in her pocket and out of sight.
Officially taking a stimulant would be considered cheating, but if the others are going to cheat and physically drug Gabriel; he saw no need to be nice and play fair either.
You have been given the buff [X2 Energy Boost]!
Due to the conflicting drugs in your system, you only get half the effects of each drug, and when they expire you will be hit with double the status debuffs!
The skill [Drug Resistance] has leveled up! Level: 1-2!
Gabriel was nowhere close to being at one hundred percent but at the moment, he had no choice but to power through. Amata and Jonas were cheering for him, along with his dad James.
Gabriel ignored the taunts from his so-called peers and focused. The next event several events were physically challenging sports. Weightlifting, throwing strength, balance acts, and a few other things. The Vault Olympics went late into the night before it was all over and despite all odds. Gabriel came in first place, despite the weakness he felt in his entire body.
Several vault dwellers cheered while others hated it, but Gabriel didn't care. He was given a sports medal with the vault boy mascot on it before he was allowed to leave.
The moment he entered his room he collapsed onto his bed in pain. The debuffs of the drugs in his body started kicking in near the end of the event, Gabriel just felt like he was dying at this point, but he looked up at the screen that appeared in front of him.
[Quest Complete!
Name: Olympian
Rewards: 5,000 EXP, Increased REP with James, Jonas and Amata, Decreased REP with Butch, Paul, Wally, Freddie and their respective allies, Decreased REP with Alphonse.]
You have leveled up! Level: 3-4-5! You have earned 10 Stat Points and 2 Perk Points!]
Gabriel mentally dismissed the screens entirely and just let himself drift off to sleep, despite how long it took due to the pain he felt in his body. At the very least, he acknowledged that he did level up his resistance to drugs a fair bit.
1
The physical challenge known as the Vault Olympics happened a little over two weeks ago and Gabriel didn't spend his stat or perk points yet. Instead, he decided to save them, in case he might need them later.
Right now, Gabriel was fast asleep without a care in the world until he suddenly found himself woken up by the sounds of alarms and Amata loudly telling him to wake up.
"Amata?" Gabriel asked before rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"Get up Gabriel! You have to get up now!" Amata shouted, and Gabriel stood up out of bed in his underwear and tank top.
"Amata, what is going on?" Gabriel asked quickly.
"It's your dad. He's out. He escaped the vault." Amata said back in a scared voice, which shocked Gabriel to his core.
"What?" Gabriel asked. "The vault is sealed. He couldn't have gotten out."
"Well, he did. And now my father's men are looking for you." Amata replied quickly and with a bit of a temper.
"Amata calm down. What exactly is happening?" Gabriel asked in a serious voice as Amata took a minute to catch her breath before swallowing a lump in her throat.
"Your father escaped the vault and my father's men are looking for you…What they did to Jonas…They though he helped your father, and they just killed him." Amata said with tears in her eyes, while Gabriel was in disbelief.
"Jonas is dead?" Gabriel asked back in a low voice as he looked down at the floor.
"Yes…I'm sorry. I know he was like family to you." Amata said before wiping away some of her tears. "I know this is hard, but we don't have time to cry. You have to get out of here now. Make your way to the Overseer's office. The terminal will let you through a hidden passageway to the vault door. And take this." Amata said before reaching behind her back as she took out a fully loaded 10mm pistol.
"A pistol?" Gabriel asked as he took the gun from her and felt the weight of it. The gun was both heavier and lighter than he thought it was.
"Yeah. Hopefully you won't need it, but now I'm not so sure. Pack up what you can. I'll try to speak with my father and get him to call off this madness." Amata said before she took off and out of Gabriel's room.
Gabriel wasted no time in equipping the vault uniform he kept in his Inventory along with the Pip-Boy and everything. He also started pocketing supplies. Photos of his dad and himself from childhood, his BB gun and pellets he got from his tenth birthday, some medical supplies his father always kept on hand, and resting in his hands is his wooden baseball bat.
[Quest Alert!
Name: Great Escape
Objective: Make your way out of the vault!
Rewards: 5,500 EXP, Freedom
Failure: Death!
Do you accept this quest? Y/N?]
Gabriel didn't even hesitate to hit the yes button before he left his room of the vault and in the hallway, he saw one of the security guards.
"Hold it right their brat!" The guard shouted as Gabriel tightened his grip on his bat with a small bit of fear before the unexpected happened. "Shit, more roaches!" The guard shouted before he was swarmed by several Radroaches.
Gabriel didn't miss his chance; he ran towards the guard with his sprint skill activated and with a heavy swing he swung his bat and clocked out the guard easily enough. Sadly, when the guard was knocked out, the roaches wasted no time and went for the guard's neck and face.
You have developed the [Two-Handed Blunt Weapon Mastery] skill!
Gabriel almost threw up as the roaches turned the guard into a mess of blood and gore. So, Gabriel started making his way through the halls. He ended up developing a sneaking skill as well.
"Damn these roaches." Officer Gomez said as he and the Mr. Handy robot from James office were killing a horde of roaches.
"Gomez?" Gabriel asked before the officer looked at him for a moment.
"Gabriel, you're here?" Gomez asked with heavy breath before looking down at the massive insects. "That doesn't matter, I guess. Look, your father has always been a good man and I think the Overseer has lost his damned mind; he actually thinks that killing you will restore order. I don't know where he went or where you're going. Just get out while you can, and I'll pretend that I never saw you."
"Thank you, Gomez. You were always a nice guy too, and I'm sorry things ended up this way." Gabriel said before he made his way to the next floor of the vault and saw a couple talking before trying to make a break for it, but they were quickly gunned down.
"Damn it." Gabriel cursed before he stuffed his bat into his inventory and took out his 10mm pistol. Gabriel saw that he couldn't sneak past the opened walkway, which means that his only option to advance was to fight. "My Pip-Boy is an advanced model with the V.A.T.S system. I haven't used it in years, but I think I still remember how to use it." Gabriel said to himself before glancing at his Pip-Boy 3000.
Gabriel slowly readied his pistol and made his way to the doorway and saw both security guards reloading their guns and in response, Gabriel quickly activated his V.A.T.S ability that was tied to his central nervous system through his wrist mounted supercomputer.
The world slowly came to a near halt. His perception of time had slowed, and his eyes were able to see the weakest points of the security guards and their armor. Gabriel aimed his pistol and fired at the guard's exposed necks with the hit probability being 82.5% and that was more than enough for him to take the chance.
Two shots in each neck put down the guards before they had a chance to attack. Gabriel saw his AP bar lower from the shots, meaning that V.A.T.S takes away energy to use, which is obvious, but it was still something to take note of. Anyway, Gabriel ignored the sick feeling he felt at having to shot people, but they easily killed two unarmed people, so he didn't feel too bad about it.
Gabriel went over and was able to loot the corpses. So, he took their gear, the two 10mm pistols and their ammo. Through his inventory, Gabriel equipped the vault security armor and headset, before making his way up to another floor of the vault. He had to literally stomp on the roaches, which earned him more EXP, but not as much as the security guards gave him.
In any case, Gabriel made his way towards the Overseer's office, while ignoring the shouts of hatred from Allen Mack, who shouted from behind his window as he looked at Gabriel. The security armor gave him some protection, but it hardly shielded his identity.
Soon enough Gabriel activated his sneak skill again and got low to the ground. He neared the Overseer's office when he heard Amata crying.
"Come on Amata. Officer Mack might enjoy this but I certainly don't. Just tell us where your friend is." Alphonse said to his daughter as Gabriel looked up through the glass and saw Amata in a chair in front of her father and Mack.
"He didn't do anything wrong. Why are you doing this?" Amata asked her father before he let out a sigh.
"I'm doing this for the good of the vault. Hit her again." Alphonse said calmly before Mack raised his police baton and struck Amata across the face, which knocked her down. Gabriel felt rage in that moment and forgot about stealth; Gabriel stormed the room and quickly activated V.A.T.S to target Mack. Gabriel fired his pistol and shot Mack in the face. Amata ran out of the room and Gabriel cornered Alphonse.
"Well, I certainly hope you are here to turn yourself in young man. Your father has caused quite a bit of trouble for you and the vault as a whole." Alphonse said, making Gabriel's face twist in rage.
"Do you say any of that crap to Jonas, before you and your thugs killed him?" Gabriel asked as Alphonse scoffed.
"Jonas was a fool and he died because he chose to risk the lives of all the vault dwellers in vault 101. Now, you only have so much time before the rest of the security guards arrive here. So, I suggest you do the smart thing and surrender." Alphonse said with a smug look before Gabriel narrowed his eyes.
"What's the password to your computer in your office?" Gabriel asked in a harsh tone and Alphonse scoffed again.
"You honestly think I'd tell you anything? Your nothing more than a fool." Alphonse said before Gabriel used V.A.T.S again and shot Alphonse in the knee. He let out a scream and clutched his leg before curling up on the floor.
"The code." Gabriel demanded as he put the gun in Alphonse face.
"The code is Amata." Alphonse said through gritted teeth.
"I'm not a monster like you. I won't kill you for revenge. Mack's death was enough for that, but for what you did and allowed in this vault. Hurting you like this was honestly too good for you." Gabriel said before he stood up and stopped at the door. "One day, the kind people in this vault will see just how evil you and your flunkies are. Tyrants always die on their thrones Alphonse." Gabriel said before leaving for the Overseer's office.
Gabriel closed the door and locked it, before seeing Amata standing over a dead Jonas. Jonas was shot to death but from the looks of things, he had also been beaten. Gabriel swallowed a lump in his throat before he walked over to Amata.
"I'm sorry you went through all that." Gabriel said, which got her attention.
"Don't be. My father lost his mind, and I couldn't give you up, knowing what my father would have done to you." Amata said before they heard footsteps nearby. "We have to go."
"Right." Gabriel said before Gabriel went into the Overseer's office and typed in the password into the computer and found the option to open the hidden passageway to the vault door, but he also found dozens of files. Files about the wasteland and proof that people could walk in and out of the vault a few years ago.
Gabriel used the usb plug of his Pip-Boy and put it in the computer before downloading all the important files, before he used the computer to open the hidden passageway to the vault door. The duo of Gabriel and Amata made their way through the passageway before coming up to the vault door as Gabriel went to the door control and deactivated the safety protocols in order to open the massive vault door.
"Were almost out Amata." Gabriel said to his best friend.
"Yeah but…I can't go with you." Amata said back, confusing Gabriel.
"What?"
"I'm the only one who can possibly talk some sense into my father after he calms down. I have to try." Amata said back with tears.
"But Amata. I can't do this on my own. I need you." Gabriel said back sadly before Amata shook her head.
"No, you don't. You're like your dad, you know how to take care of yourself and others. I know you'll be fine out there and find your father."
"I'll never see you again. Will I?" Gabriel asked as he lowered his head and tried to ignore the tears that fell from his eyes.
"I don't know." Amata admitted before they heard footsteps coming up to them. "You have to go now."
"Goodbye Amata." Gabriel said as the vault door opened and he made his way through and out of the cave system, before stepping out into the real world.
[Quest Complete!
Name: Great Escape
Rewards: 5,500 EXP]
You have leveled up! Level: 5-6! You have earned 5 stat points and 1 perk point for a total of 15 Stat Points and 3 Perk Points!
Gabriel let out a heavy breath and smelled real air for the first time. The air almost burned his nose and felt dry, yet it also felt natural. The sun blinded him for a moment before he regained his sight, and he felt the heat on his skin and through his clothes. He looked out all around him and saw the wasteland. The outside world was in ruins.
"So, this is what the world looks like after the great war." Gabriel said to himself before a new quest appeared before him.
[Quest Alert!
Name: Finding Father
Objective 1: Discover your fathers location!
Objective 2: Find your father and speak with him!
Rewards: 12,000 EXP, Increased REP with your Father and N/A faction!
Failure: Never knowing what happened and why it happened!
Do you accept this quest? Y/N?]
Gabriel couldn't hit the yes button fast enough. So, now he looked at his Pip-Boy and looked over the files he downloaded. The town known as Megaton was nearby in the distance, so Gabriel figured that he should start looking there and sure enough he started walking down the broken road.
After several minutes of walking, he entered the town of Hopeville and came up to three people in strange spiky outfits. The person in the middle had a double barrel shotgun, the one on the right had a weird looking revolver and the one on the left had a rifle with parts of wood added to it.
Gabriel saw the information above their heads and instantly knew he was in trouble. These people are raiders and in stories, raiders/bandits are always bad news.
"Well, look at what we got here boys. A vault dweller. And he ain't carrying anything either." The one with the shotgun said with a smile.
"Lucky us. We can just take him back to the school and get some work out of him." The girl with the revolver said with a sadistic looking smile of her own.
"Look, I'm not looking for trouble. Can't we work this out peacefully?" Gabriel asked as he raised his hands up to show that he was no threat. However, he quickly regretted it. Gabriel felt a surging pain rock him to the ground. His right shoulder had been shot with a high caliber sniper round. Gabriel turned his head and saw a raider hiding behind a building, with said sniper in his hands.
"Damn it. Now he won't be able to play games with us. At least now we can say we killed a vault dweller." The one with the shotgun said before stomping on Gabriel's head, with said gun being pointed at the back of Gabriels chest.
Gabriel couldn't believe his luck. He escaped the vault, just to die here, and the sad reality was that Gabriel wasn't able to stop this from happening. Gabriel then heard a loud bang and thought he was dead; he wasn't and saw the shotgun wielding raider had fallen to the ground.
More shots fired and Gabriel saw the other raiders fall without putting up much of a fight.
"Looks like we came down here just in time." A man said as Gabriel looked up from the ground and saw a man in a sheriff outfit standing over him.
END!
A/N: Okay another chapter down and Gabriel just learned a harsh lesson about the wasteland. Don't leave your back exposed. Anyway, not much to be said other than please Fav, Follow and Review.
