Blood from Vault 18

Chapter 2

Rude awakening

"So you here to see my daughter?" Vault 18 did not have many people that Kieron would call scary, but if there was one group of people that earned his respect and fear it was the Wasteland Scouts, more specifically the man that stood before him Yetti Hail the most famous of the group.

Kieron simply nodded "Yes sir, can I please come in?" Kieron smiled politely with no fear it wasn't like he was the one that insisted, Jenn was the one that wanted to see him and if it was so important then she would have to convince her dad the man glared at the teen for a minute "I suppose I could let you into my house, we do need more children in the vault"

"… excuse me sir?" Kieron said dumbly making the taller man laugh "Ah I am just messing with ya kid" he wrapped an arm around him and pushed Kieron inside the room, two young kids played around the "tv" as the mother of the house quietly read a book. From the other side of the room Jenn looked mortified as Kieron waved awkwardly at her "Dad…why?" was the only thing she managed to mutter, her father chuckled softly "Oh come on now, we all have a duty to this vault you know Jenn and sometimes…"

Jenn raised her hand to stop him and grabbed Kieron's arm to drag him to her room "Ok dad that's enough, privacy mode engaged. I just want to talk to him about some things" Kieron swore he saw Yetti snicker as his wife tried to hide her giggles. Now in her room, Jenn let out a sigh and looked at him apogetically "Sorry… don't worry we don't have to make babies if you don't want to" she said with a small smirk.

I… wouldn't mind that honestly" Kieron grinned but his face changed a bit as he narrowed his eyes at Jenn "Is everything ok Jenn? Look if it's those assholes again I can beat them up no problem"

Jenn smiled sadly "No… they have left me alone, I guess they got bored after I kind of just hid away. Seems like I am just good at that… Kieron have you ever noticed how Bragg used those bullies for his team? They are in his team and it even has to do with what I want to talk to you about" Jenn leaned towards his ear "Bragg has a list, I heard him and his sister speaking about it. I was on the B team but my family… he said they were on the bottom of the barrel. I am worried Kieron and you are… his favorite right now so I was hoping…"-"Say no more I got this"

"Just like that?" Kieron gave her a small smile "I trust you Jenn, you're one of the few who always had my back. I will go and see what this is all about, knowing Bragg is just some mumbo jumbo about games and stuff. He and his sister are bit you know… scary at times but I really don't think it's anything malicious. I'll be back in a bit!"

Kieron left in a hurry as Jenn could only smile as she brought a hand to her heart, from the corner of her eye she spotted her father move towards her "He… has a good heart Jenn, poking around Bragg might be a bad idea I know his type"

"Dad, I told you to not listen in!"

Yetti did not even try to look apologetically about the fact "Look, when your boyfriend comes back I want to talk to him. I got a bad feeling about this entire thing, the election, the game everything" Yetti said as he closed his eyes and tried to think of better times, when it was just him and his friends helping the Vault and trying find something of worth on the Old World.

Kieron darted from the lower apartments towards the main area, from the corner of his eye he spotted how most people seemed to be moving back towards their rooms the celebrations dying down and most of the guards preparing themselves for the night shift "Man I hope I get the early shift" Kieron muttered to himself as he spotted his target, sititng by himself in a corner with Nuka Cola as his drink of choice, giving him a quick glance Bragg raised an eyebrow at him "Shouldn't you be in bed star player"

Said star player gave him a nod "I should… but I wanted to thank you for your advice coach, I'm part of Vault Security now. They even gave me a gun and everything"

Bragg nodded "Good, make sure to be sure for anything soldier. But now, that was not the only thing you came here for right?"

Soldier?

Kieron shrugged, he was already being read like a book, so he went with the honest answer "Well I heard that there's a list, one where the most important people in the vault are and I wanted to get in it"

Bragg's expression changed as he motioned for the kid to sit down, Kieron did so and the moment he did Bragg leaned in closer and lowered his voice to almost a whisper "Listen very carefully, the Master List is not something to be talked like that. I know some of the kids like to speak a little too much but you're not like them are you star player? Where did you hear this"

Shifting uncomfortably Kieron looked to the side "I… was walking back to my room, I passed by the laundry and… I heard whispers it sounded like a girl"

Bragg narrowed his eyes "Well, the master list is not that important. It's just on where people rank in terms of importance, those capable enough or with the right attitude are on the A tier, your tier. As for the rest well I don't think I need to tell you that this vault is in need of new blood"

Kieron let out a sigh "You can tell me about it, seems like everyone is afraid of change" the young vault dweller said as he put on an act, sure he might feel like the people in the vault threated his family and him like shit but it was till his home and he wouldn't do anything against it. But his comment made Bragg relax so he relaxed as he passed the small test that the coach put him through "Tell me about it kid, that's why I am running for overseer we can't let this bastards drag this great vault into nothing, it would be a big disservice for those that died so that they could all live their cozy lives"

Kieron tilted his head to the side "You mean America?"

"Yes I do and I am glad that you pay attention to the broader picture, America… oh that's big speak right there" Kieron did not see why it was big talk but he nodded nonetheless "And… that's why you are running for overseer? Do you think you can bring it back?"

Bragg smiled "I don't think son. I WILL bring it back tomorrow you'll see what happens when we really kick into gear. You better get to bed now soldier, dismissed"

Another test, Kieron could see it in his coach's eyes that he was testing him again, so for now all he could do was nod and give a small salute "Yes sir" Bragg grinned content as the natural born soldier walked away with a lot on his mind. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted the rest of his team handing each other baseball bats and other shady looking stuff. Walking back to the lower apartments he knocked on the Jenn's door, it was answered by Yetti again "You look tired son"

"I am sir, would you mind telling Jenn that the list she heard about is just a health or at least that's what I understood that it was"

Yetti nodded "Sure kid… so you talked to Bragg then"

"I did and I don't know what to think honestly. If you don't mind sir I think I am going to bed see you around" Kieron marked the last thing on his list as complete and headed to his room, the cold corridors of the lower apartments made him shudder as something in the air made him feel uneasy as if something was watching him from the cameras. A she entered his house he spotted the game was still going on but he did not feel like talking to his brother or the son of the overseer, but he did walk to tap Mandy on the shoulder "Hey, don't stay up too late Mandy. Exams and all that"

The red head nodded as she leaned into him for a bit for a small hug "Are you ok? You look tired"

"I guess everything just piled up that's all… have a good night Mandy" Kieron did not know why but he held tightly to Mandy and planted a soft kiss on her forehead before he left, the act confused the girl her brother never giving her more than a half hug in the recent years, maybe things would change tomorrow? All of them getting closer as a family.

As the vault fell into silence and darkness consumed most of the large structure, most of the vault dwellers did not realize that some doors remained unlocked, Vault security did not question why most of the old guard was granted the day shift and as the machine finished counting the votes the fate of the Vault 18 was written into the canvas of history.

"Now you boys play this one real close to the vest, the Overseer won't know what hit him if we do this right" a cold voice said as the grunt reloaded their weapons and finished putting on their new uniforms, proudly displaying the Enclave symbol on their backs. Colonel Bragg grinned as the new soldiers displayed their uniforms to his side Lieutenant Chevy looked down at her PipBoy "The president has just send the word, we need to secure this vault now. Seems like the stars aligned for this"

Bragg frowned "That Henry really has a sense of timing, but it doesn't matter. We have all the charges set up to kill most of our enemies before they even know it, I expect little resistance. Tell Mason to pull the trigger"

Chevy raised an eyebrow at him "Oh? You're not going to warn some of the… potential recruits? Not even him?"

"If he really is worthy of servinf the United States then he will survive and then come to us. The Enclave has no need for weaklings" Chevy nodded as she sent the word to detonate the generators and with it wipe ou most of the lower apartments.

A simple push of a button was all it took for the inside of the vault to be consumed with flames and melted steel, those that died instantly where the lucky ones, those that survived the explosion screamed in agony as fire burned them to the bone. Few managed to crawl away from the flames as Vault 18 descended into madness, the pipes shattered as water from all over helped to stop the inferno. Soft drops of water awoke a burnt body along the rubble the figure groaned in pain as it began to slowly crawl out of the destroyed rubble that was once his home, its skin was red and black the bone completely visible in some areas of the body.

The body struggled to make noise as his throat was full of blood and bile coughing it slowly the skin began to heal and the body itself was repaired, Kieron was not conscious his body going on autopilot as it healed its user from what would have been to a normal creature assured death. As his breathing stabilized and his brain began to regain its power Kieron gasped as he finally awoke from gis nightmare "GAH! W-what?!" he groaned as he struggled to get to his feet, blood all over him as he struggled to get to his feet. His eyes refused to work as all around him flashes of red and white made him dizzy, stumbling like a child Kieorn felt himself shiver "Mandy! Are you okay?" silence was the only thing that answered him now worrired adrenaline began to circulate his system as fear began to take control of his body.

"MANDY!" Kieron called out again to the same result, silence.

His vision began to clear as he tried to find his sister, running into her room he found it desserted "Shit shit" he muttered as she remembered that they where playing the stupid game in the living room so bolting from that room to the next Kieron forced the door open and felt his hand bleed as the metal sank deep into his skin, subduing the need to scream from the pain he felt in hands.

The young vault dweller struggled to see between all the smoke and debris but he did spot a ruined guitar near what he assumed was a sofa and dread began to set in as he walked slowly towards the destroyed musical instrument "Mandy?" he called out softly as he moved the sofa to the side.

Mandy was a mess of blood and guts, half of her face was missing peeled away by the explosion, her body was torn and her organs spilled on the floor Kieron felt his world shatter as he held the corpse of his sister "No…nononono this can't be happening!" Kieron cried as he felt tears begin to fall down his face.

"..kie…" Soft murmurs from behind him made Kieron turn his head as he spotted his brother reach out to him, but Kieron could not tear himself away from his sister maybe there was something he could do to save her still, the silence lasted seconds as his brain denied the answer before his eyes "PLEASE HE…" the roof fell on Shaun as Kieron cursed trying to dig him out of the rubble, blood grazed his finger tips as brain matter came into view.

Kieron jumped away from the sight as he tried to hold the wave of nausea that hit him "Fuck… Shaun I…. I'm so sorry" the boy felt crushed as he sobbed into his hands, he had failed as an older brother. Gunshots and screams of pain reached his ears grabbing the small guitar necklace on what remained of his sisters neck and putting it around his own. His brain shut down and his body went on autopilot so he did what he always did.

He tried to help.

"Don't make me shoot you kid! Please don't do this!"

Slamming the door open Kieron walked out like a man possessed and looked at the scene playing a security officer coughed up blood as a shot landed directly on his throat as the last guard made a final stand against the unseen assailants. From the smoke and fire two figures emerged the white insignia of the Enclave shinning on their chest. "So you survived then… Brag requires you to come with us Kieron" one of the figure said as he began to recognize them, they were his teammates from the vault game. Kieron hear the guard next to him prepare his weapon "Leave him alone!"

There was a soft click as the two guys raised their weapon to shoot and Kieron made his choice, he jumped scaring the guard and ran towards the two, in his surprise one of the enclave soldiers fired accidentally the bullet sinking deep into Kieron's flesh. Slamming his fist into the jaw of one of the enclave recruit Kieron knocked him to the ground and turned to the one that had shot him "Look man I am sor…" Kieron screamed as he slammed the head of his teammate against the wall, a large splat of blood on the now crimson wall.

Grabbing the knife he had dropped Kieron took a step back "If any of you fuckers get up I swear I will kill you"

"Traitor! How dare you betray your own country!" the first guy he had punched said as he wiped his mouth and grabbed his 10mm pistol and aimed. Kieron reacted and sunk the knife on the guys forehead, the skull cracking and the blood pouring out like a fountain.

He had killed him.

Kieron took some steps back and started to breathe heavily, he brought a hand to his mouth as his tears began to fall, he had killed someone. A classmate, someone who he had shared laughs with and victories.

*BANG*

Jumping in shock Kieron looked back as the security guard lowered his gun and grimaced "You forgot about the other one… God I just shot that kid… Kieron get over here" Kieron looked to the side as he watched the blood pool beneath the man he had assumed was out cold. Still shaking he walked over to the guard and was met with a slap to the face.

"Listen here kid, we are under attack this bastards are destroying the vault, get your shit together. We need to get everything under control, I'm looking for survivors but… I got shot in the leg and I don't think I will be able to move that much. Kid I need you to check every room here and then head to the upper apartments, we have to regroup and fight back!"

Kieron numbly nodded as he moved without thinking, his eyes searching for anything as he tried to forget what he did to another human being, soft sobbing reached his ears as he felt dread come over him as he remembered who this room belonged too "Shit" Kieron ran towards the room and pried the door open, not that there was much left of it anyways.

Looking everywhere for the noise Kieron pushed out rubble and spotted blonde hair "Oh my god Jenn!" it was nothing short of a miracle, a large piece of metal protected Jenn from most of the rubble finally freeing her the girl jumped to his arms "They are dead! I heard them… please don't go please don't leave me please"

Her family was… Kieron looked away as he spotted a lone teddy bear stained with something he did not want to know what it was "Jenn we need to leave, the vault has been attacked and I need to get you somewhere safe come on" Jenn sobbed as she shook her head "I am not my dad… I can't, I can't go…"

Kieron kneeled next to her and pulled her closer to him "Yes you can, i wont leave you here Jenn"

"B-but what if I… we are under attack! I don't think I can survive"

Kieron smiled "Then I will protect you, don't worry. I don't want to lose you too" Jenn smiled sadly at him as she held his hand "This is not the time to be a sweet talker big guy… let's go I don't want to be here anymore" a soft request that he happily tried to help. Kieron helped her to her feet and noticed how she limped a bit, many cuts all over her body told him that she was far more hurt than him. As they reached the hallway a loud gunshot echo, Kieron cursed as he and Jenn took cover "Yes, target eliminated. No there is no one left… roger sir meet you at the overseer's office"

Jenn's eyes widened as she spotted one of the girls from her class over the body of a guard, Kieron on the other hand stared in hatred. The man he was just talking to was dead, he felt his blood boil. Letting go of Jenn's hand he reached for the knife he had awkwardly tucked in on his hip and prepared himself.

Kieron grabbed a small rock and threw it towards another side of the room making the girl look at the noise, Kieron ran with inhumane speed at her and tried to knock her out out but to his surprise a sharp pain exploded on his left side. She had stabbed him, the enclave soldier moved the gun towards his head Kieron had to use his hands to stop the gun and with the other stop the knife from getting deeper into his abdomen "Look at you the Star Player, bet I will get to the top of Braggs list if I kill you"

To emphasize her point she put more pressure on the knife as Kieron'sother hand wavered as eh instictivly moved it down, the gun was almost at his temple. The girl grinned as his finger began to slip on the knife blood and sweat making it hard to hold on.

"KIERON!" from behind them Jenn had grabbed a decent size rock and brought it down on the enclave soldier, making the girl stumble and allowing Kieron to push her off him and struggle the gun off her hands. The girl barely had time to blink as Kieron shot at her head killing her in one shot "Oh… we killed her" Jenn muttered as she brought her hands to her face.

"I did, it's ok Jenn you didn't do anything… lets go, we need to get to the upper apartments" Kieron let out a sigh as he looked down at his wound. Not all that deep from the looks of it, Jenn on the other hand stared in amazement at it. 'What on earth? Did he use a stimpack?' was the question that popped into her head as she saw Kieron grab bullets and ammo from the dead bodies.

Reaching for Jenn's hand once again the duo began to move quietly out of the lower apartments sound of fighting reached their ears as they both flinched at the sound of gunfire. Now in the main area of the vault Jenn's eyes widened as she looked at her home torn to shreds, bullets flew through the air as Vault security desperately tried to fend off the invaders.

Kieron on the other hand glared "I won't let this assholes destroy my home"