Fallout: Overlord

Chapter 1: The Boy Frozen in 111

The Year: 2077

October 22

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth was a geographic region largely encompassing the state of Massachusetts in New England, and was the capital of Boston.

A powerful force in the history, industry, and culture of the US, Massachusetts was one of the original Thirteen Colonies. Massachusetts became a hotbed of secessionist sentiment. The conflict between colonists and the crown was only aggravated by attempts to tax the colonies without giving them representation in the parliament, resulting in the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.

In the 21st Century, the evolution transformed the face of Massachusetts, with the state's economy supercharged by the emergence of a vibrant high technology sector spearheaded by the Commonwealth Institute of Technology. Located in Cambridge, the CIT was one of the foremost centers of higher learning in the nation, providing it with many great minds, including Robert House, who founded RobCo Industries in 2042, after graduating CIT, and turned it into one of the most profitable companies on the planet within five years. As private and public interests flocked to Massachusetts, the face of the state changed as well. Skyscrapers sprouted across the financial district, with several cutting edge facilities established by many major corporations. A sophisticated network of elevated superhighways and monorail lines are present throughout the city, all of which spanning from the 2040s up until 2077.

Several companies including Mass Fusion (the state's primary energy provider), Vault-Tec Corporation (which also established a number of its vaults across the state), Poseidon Energy, General Atomics International, Galaxy News Network, HalluciGen Inc, Nuka-Cola Corporation (setting up Nuka-World in the western part of the state) and many more. The ports of Massachusetts continued to bring in commerce and traffic, until the beginning of the Resource Wars. Cambridge Polymer Labs developed nanotechnology to further refine the military's weapons. Sentinel Site Prescott to the southwest of the state was erected as defense against nuclear weapons.

Though for now, it was a neighboring community with state of the art technology. Fusion-powered cars drove about, as General Atomics International Mark 4 robots did yard and housework to help about.

In one neighboring home, what felt like an ordinary day... would be the last of normalcy for one person.

It was a beautiful day with the sun shining and not a cloud in the sky. It was warm enough that anyone could enjoy the day without feeling sick. The perfect day to have a picnic with friends and family, play a game of baseball, go for a walk, swim in a nearby lake, or just sit outside and relax in the sunlight.

It was the kind of day that anyone would imagine as being perfect.

Inside one of the homes, a Caucasian man was getting the day ready. He was a fellow in his forties, but with the physique of a superhuman, almost like Captain America. With blonde hair cut military short, blue eyes, while he had two scars on the left side of his head. He had a kind of gruff appearance, but he seemed to have a gentleness to those he cared for. He was wearing blue jeans, black combat boots, a white under shirt with a green button up shirt atop. He was currently working on breakfast, as a Handy Mk 4 was helping about. The man's name was William J. Blazkowicz, or BJ to his fellow friends: a military soldier who was also a family man, as a photograph of a family shot of him was shown with a beautiful woman with brown hair, Caucasian skin, wearing a white and red dress, with their children. Two girls and one boy; the girls were twins with one having blonde hair long, and another brown hair short. The boy had a mix of brown and blonde hair with blue eyes as well.

BJ called out, "Cody! You up yet! We've gotta get ready to head out."

Cody's Room

The room was nice and tidy, but had some memorabilia of the time. One of which was a patriotic poster with soldiers, and superhuman power metal suits with the logo saying "Liberty and Justice". The bed was a bit messy on the lower left corner with clothes that had yet to be put up, but the occupant in the bed was a bit groggy, as he wanted to get up but couldn't. He was an eighteen-year-old Caucasian boy, a mix of Texan and Polish descent, with a small muscle build; not as superhuman as his father. He had shaggy dirty blond hair, spiking up at the top, dressed in a white t-shirt and black sweatpants. He finally sat up, as he heard his father call out again, "Cody? Do I need to have Cogsworth pour ice water on you?"

The boy, Cody Blazkowicz, finally got up, as he sat up, and turned to the edge, yawning out. He then groaned, "Okay, Pops. I'm up."

30 Minutes of Morning Cleaning Later...

Moments later, Cody had cleaned up and gotten dressed. He was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with a black t-shirt on top, blue jeans, and wore gray and black sneakers. He stretched out as he walked to the kitchen, as the TV was on, showcasing a Nuka-Cola commercial while he walked in. He yawned as he asked, "What time is it?"

"About 8 AM," BJ answered his son, who rummaged through the fridge to find orange juice, as he closed the door and looked for a glass, "The flight to LA doesn't start until 11, so we had time."

Cody grabbed a glass, as he poured himself a drink, "I am not a morning person. I don't know how you do it so well, Pops."

"Going to bed at the same time every night is the first step," BJ replied as he pulled a glass out of the cupboard, "Then there's making time for exercise, anything you enjoy, and knowing there are things to do in the mornings really helps."

"Sounds like the sort of thing that would make one hat the mornings," Cody said as he began to drink the juice he poured from himself.

BJ chuckled as he poured himself a drink as well, "I said the same thing to your grandpa as well. Then he had me run an extra ten laps during morning training."

"I bet that was fun," Cody said sarcastically as he rinsed his cup out. "It made me think twice before appreciating my dad's training schedule," BJ answered after finishing his drink, "Be thankful that went easy on you."

"I seem to recall you once told me he tied you to a chair, and forced you to shoot the family dog," Cody shivered, as he looked to him, "How did you not end up like him?"

"Well, thankfully when I was old enough, I enlisted into the military," BJ said. "Most of that time, he cut all ties with me. Called me a queer for falling in love with your mother."

Cody had to sober up on that, knowing full well the stories he heard about how his grandfather was to his son. Even to his own grandmother; treating her horribly, while blaming all his faults on her. He could understand why his father never mentioned or even contacted his grandfather about his family. He didn't want his son to be treated the same way, or his sisters, Kera and Eve.

"Well, at the end of the day, it's loss," BJ replied with a smile, "He missed out on getting to know a great family." Cody smiled at his dad feeling happy from hearing that. The teenager was thankful that his family were great people unlike a lot of other families that would physically, or mentally abuse their children or use them for money.

"It is such a joy to see father and son bonding in their quality time," Cogsworth said, as he hovered about, placing two plates of flapjacks down. "Before they meet up with the ladies in Los Angeles for the celebration of the end of the China-Canada War." He looked down, and blinked, "Oh dear, I forgot the syrup." He then hovered to find it.

"Where would we be without Cogsworth," Cody asked as he began to cut his pancakes.

"Probably with a messy kitchen from all our failed cooking attempts and filled with order out packaging," BJ replied with laugh, "I can just imagine my bank account crying every day."

This caused father and son to laugh. It was the simple things like this, sharing a meal between a parent and child, and enjoying their time together that could easily be taken for granted. It was something BJ really appreciated as he never had a meal with his father like this. That was way he planned to be a better parent then his father.

Ding Dong

All three looked to the door, as Cogsworth asked, "Now who could that be?" He opened the door to see a smiling brown haired Caucasian man dressed in a blue suit, with an overcoat on, and holding a pamplet. Cogsworth turned around and said, "Sirs. I do believe we have a salesman."

"And he chose to come during breakfast," Cody said in a low voice, "That's why I like sleeping in."

Cody was about to get up, but his dad stopped him, as he said, "I got this. Finish your flapjacks. And if you can, give your mom a call with the number she left us. Wanna let her know our progress." And walked over ot the door, as he asked, "Can I help ya?"

"Good morning, sir," the man in the suit said with an enthusiastic tone and smile, "Vault-Tec calling!"

"Vault-Tec," BJ asked, as in the background, Cody finished up and began to call his mom, "What's the problem?"

"There's no problem at all. We're all about helping resolve your problems sir," the salesman from Vault-Tech said as he gave his pitch, "And helping secure your future. You see, Vault-Tec is the foremost builder of state-of-the-art underground fallout shelters. Vaults if you will. Luxury accommodations, where you can wait out the horrors of nuclear devastation. You can't begin to know how happy I am to finally speak with you. I've been trying for days. It's a matter of utmost urgency, I assure you."

"I'm sorry about that," BJ replied, "I've been busy with getting things sorted out. What's this urgent matter?"

"Why nothing less than your entire future! If you haven't noticed, sir, this country has gone to heck in a hand basket," The salesman continued in the same tone while also sounding serious about the matter, "If you'll excuse my language. The big kaboom is... it's inevitable, I'm afraid. And coming sooner than you may thing. If you catch my meaning. Now I know you're a busy fellow, so I won't take up much of your time. Time being a, um, precious commodity... I'm here today to tell you that because of your family's service to our country, you have been pre-selected for entrance into the local Vault. Vault 111."

"Sounds great," BJ replied with a smile, "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

"Oh, you and me both, sir," the salesman said with a smile, "Now, I just need to verify some information with you."

While his father sorted things out, Cody was speaking with his mother, as he smiled, "Hey, Mom. How are things down in LA with Evie and Kera?"

"Oh just wonderful, Cody," Cody's mother replied in a happy voice, "You're sisters and I have everything set up and are having a great time. I wish you and your father were here as well."

"Evie's not causing problems, right? I know how rowdy she gets," Cody joked. Ever since their high school graduation, for the next three months before college, his sisters were having the time of their lives. Kera was a bit of the cautious type, but Evie was a bit of a wild child. He loved his sisters, but they could drive him nuts.

"Of course not," his mother said in an over the top happy voice, "Evie knows when to go wild and when to- "

CRASH

"EVIE! That better not have been something important," Cody's mother yelled in anger. "Sorry about that, Cody," his mom replied back in her happy tone, "We're doing just great. How about you and your dad?"

"Alot better than you, apparently," Cody joked. "I admit, Evie's a bit of a handful. She's been flirting with every guy she's come to meet," his mom sighed.

"Hey, Mom. Is that Cody on the phone," one of the girls spoke up.

"It is, Kera," she said, as she asked, "Want to talk to him?"

"Yes, please," Kera replied happily as the phone was passed to her. "Hi Cody," Kera said, "How are you and dad doing?"

"Well, things are a bit quiet. What with just him and Cogsworth here," Cody answered, as he looked over to his dad still with the Vault-Tec salesman. "Apparently, he's going over something with Vault-Tec."

"Heh, funny. Mom got the same thing," Kera shrugged. "Something about the Vault down here. Vault 31-33. Good thing Mom's an executive with Vault-Tec."

"Yeah, that is one thing to luck out on," Cody shrugged.

"Oh don't be like that," Kera replied, "If it wasn't for mom's position, we might not have a room in the Vaults if something does happen."

"But doesn't it seem a bit... too much? Like Vault-Tec is building all these Bomb Shelters they call Vaults all over America," Cody asked, shrugging. "I mean, it's there. But nobody's gonna use them. It just seems a bit overkill."

Evie's voice then spoke up, "Ugh, Cody. You need a girlfriend. Or join one of those hippie groups and get a polygamic relationship with a litter of girls." Cody shrugged, "That sounds more like something you do, Evie."

"Not true," Evie exclaimed, "I don't need a hippie group to get a harem of men for myself."

"Sounds like Evie is still as boy crazy as ever," Cody said to Kera over the phone.

"You have no idea," Kera said before laughing along with her brother on the matter. "Though Evie is right. When you get down here, we need to get you a girlfriend."

Though in the back of the phone, Cody heard traffic coming to a halt or something going on, as he asked, "Hey, guys. What's going on back there? Sounds like car crashes."

"I don't know. It's..." Kera said, but then their mom spoke up, sounding a bit more panicked.

"We have to go, now," their mom said, "We need to get going."

"Mom, what's-" Before Kera could finish, Cody heard the sound of footsteps and the something hitting the floor. "Kera? Evie?! Mom," Cody asked in alarm as his voice grew more concerned. But no reply was heard. Just the sound of footsteps and frantic yelling that he couldn't make out over the phone.

The salesman was finished, as the door closed with the final stuff done. Mr. Blazkowicz came back as he looked to see Cody calmly but freaking out a bit. Cogsworth was about to do something, but then noticed something on TV while father and son conversed.

"Sirs! You may want to see what's on the television," Cogsworth called out, "I believe there's trouble."

Cody and CB quickly came into the room to see what their robotic butler was referring to. "Followed by... yes, followed by flashes. Blinding flashes. Sounds of explosions... We're... we're trying to get confirmation... But we seem to have lost contract with our affiliate stations," a news castor on the television screen said in a concerned tone as he looked at the report in his hands, "We do have... coming in... confirmed reports. I repeat, confirmed reports of nuclear detonations in New York and Pennsylvania."

"Nuclear," Cody said in an alarmed voice as his eyes widened in realization as to what was happening while his father stared in shock at the screen. The news castor looked down while covering his face with his free hand to hide the fear on his face from the viewers. Suddenly, the screen change to a 'Please Stand By' screen and all but tv static could be heard.

Knock Knock Knock

The door pounded furiously, as the father and son Blazkowicz men walked over, and opened the door. This time, it was a soldier, as he said, "Sirs. We need to get you over to Vault 111 as fast as possible."

"Vault 111? How bad is this situation," Cody asked.

"So bad that there's no word for it," the soldier said, "Now hurry up! We need to get to the Vault, now!"

Cody looked to Cogsworth, and asked, "But what about Cogsworth?"

"Oh, don't fret about me, Master Cody," Cogsworth waved it off. "I was built to last 400 years. A nuclear breeze couldn't dent me out. I will see you yet again."

The two then looked to each other, as Cody waved, "I hope to see you soon, old friend."

And both left, as Cogsworth floated to the door. "I shall await to see you all soon," Cogsworth said, as he closed the door. Father and Son raced with the soldier as fast as they could.

20 Minutes Later

Sanctuary Hills

It was 20 minutes as they raced to a forest pathway, and onto a small bridge over a small creak. Cody looked behind him and saw others coming too, so it seemed they got the message. Though a while back when they left, he saw other families attempting to hide in Mini Vault-Tec vaults. Possibly a small home owned version of what Vault-Tec had made. As they followed the soldier, Cody spotted a fenced waypoint to where others were awaiting to be brought into the vault. There were two guards with one officer, dressed in what appeared to be white silver armor, bulky but powerful, as they were holding up each a mini gun one would find on a chopper. This was the Power Suit TS-60, a more updated version of the 45 models Cody's dad used during the last war. And it seemed that there would be a few select going in.

One that was arguing was the same salesman from before. "This is absurd! I am Vault-Tec," the salesman shouted, being panicking that he wasn't being let in.

"You're not on the list! You don't get in," one of the guards said in a stern and gruff voice.

"I'm going in! You can't stop me," the sales rep said in a stern voice. All signs of his friendly persona were gone in the face of this disaster. Suddenly, the other guard pointed his gun at the sales rep causing him to back away while holding his hands up. "I'm reporting this," the Sales man yelled out as he ran away from the gate.

Cody and his Dad saw him leave, as they were sent up, as the guard asked, "Name?" "Blazkowicz," BJ spoke up.

The guard nodded, "Okay, you can come in." The two were about to go in, as the father stepped through the gate. But then as Cody was about to enter, the guard stopped him, "Only one. Sorry, you're not on the list, kid."

"What," Both said, looking confused on this, as the line was getting impatient.

"I'm sorry, but only the father was registered due to his service," the guard stated. "That's my son you're kicking out," BJ shouted to him, as he grabbed the guard by the collar. To which the Power Armored men aimed their guns at him.

"I'm sorry, but there's only room for one more inside with the Blazkowicz name," the guard said, not liking it either.

Cody then shook his head, as he said, "Dad. It's fine." He looked a little bit hyperventilated, not liking this but knew the situation. "Dad. Mom and the girls need you. I can... I can probably find another Vault nearby in town." But then BJ grabbed Cody and pulled him in, as he stepped out to the other side, as Cody blinked, "Wait, Dad! What...?"

"He can take my place," BJ answered, giving up his spot. He looked to the guard, and asked, "Will that work?"

The guard nodded, "Yeah. It can work that way."

"But, Dad..." Cody tried to convince his dad, but his father reached out, and gently pulled him in, his forehead touching to his.

"Son, listen. I can't outlive my own kids. It doesn't work like that," BJ told him, as he looked to him, "I love ya, son. And no matter what happens, no matter where you are in this world. Whatever happens at the of this. Live. Survive. And find your mother and sisters. Do what I can't do anymore when I'm gone." He then gently pulled his son away, as Cody almost looked like he was gonna cry at this point.

Cody blinked, as he saw his dad back off, "Dad..."

"I love ya, son. That's why I can't foresake you like that," BJ said, smiling sadly at his son. "Tell your mom and sisters my love to them." Cody was about to rush for his father, but the guards pulled him back, as others started to come in there.

"Dad, wait!" He tried to call out to him to see where he was, but he was disappearing into the crowd, as Cody shouted, being pulled to the vault on the hilltop, "DAD! DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!"

They had reached the top of the hill, to where Cody was overseeing all the Commonweath in its green and city glory. Even with this view, it did little to help him in his state of mind as to what had just transpired. The Vault itself was located overlooking Sanctuary Hills, as everyone from the neighborhoods of Sanctuary Hills and Concord were taken to Vault 111. Cody and the other survivors, which were mostly adults, were standing atop a Vault-Tec platform, as they were awaiting to descend down below.

The Vault was chirring and whirring to open, as one of the men, which they were stationed at a portable trailer relay station to HQ, got the go, "Okay, send them down."

Cody looked around at what was going on. Until a sudden Whoosh was heard, almost like all the air from afar was sucked up from one location. Things grew silent and as everyone turned to the horizon on Sanctuary Hills, as they and Cody, all saw what made it all deadly silent. A bright blast of light lit up the horizon like a light being switched on in total darkness, as they all shielded themselves from it. But it died down a bit from also the massive explosion that came with it once it set off. As the light died down, and Cody saw, it was much to his horror. A giant mushroom cloud on the horizon.

….. The bombs were going off.

"HOLD ON," one of the soldiers said, as suddenly, the platform below them began to extend downward, taking them into the vault below. And it was about time as well, as they were now only barely in, the blastwave swooshed above them as the platform door closed off, as they descended downward down. Once Cody felt they were a mile down, the platform stopped, as the soldier spoke up, "Alright, everyone. Please step off the elevator, and go up the stairs in an orderly fashion." As they did, even a shaky Cody did as well, they saw the occupants of the Vault waiting for them. They were wearing what appeared to be skin tight blue and yellow body suits.

Some wore white chest and forearm guards with helmets, as one held a pamphlet and said, "Welcome to Vault 111. A better future underground. Go up the stairs, and we'll get you all situated in your new home." Everyone headed up the stairs, as Cody heard murmuring about them almost being a second too late. Though Cody was a bit worried though knowing about his father's fate, while he was also worried for his mom and sisters. If this was happening not just in the Commonwealth then he knew that it was happening all over the world. He just hoped they would get to Vault 31-33 in time.

As they got to the level and walked across a platform, which escalated them to the other end, they were greeted by a scientist group, giving out bathrobes. "Please find a cubicle, undress and clean up," a female scientist said. "Then follow the guards to the Decontamination Chambers."

Cody arched an eyebrow, as he asked, "Decontamination?"

She nodded, "Yes. You'll be in the chamber for 180 days. Plenty of time to wait out the Nuclear Fallout." She then gestured to the robe, "Now please take one, and once you do, go to one of the cubicles, undress for your clothes to be decontaminated, and await for assignment for your chamber."

Cody was a bit unsure of all this, but took the robe, as he followed to where were cubicles in a white room, with the cubicle door showing the legs at the knee. He passed by to see the people quickly undressing and robing up as fast as they could. Once he found a vacant cubicle, he entered into it and began to undress and prepare for whatever it was they were doing to them here.

Later On

Decontamination Station

Cody and the others were walking down a pathway, now dressed in white robes that reached down to their knees, and walked barefooted. It was rather chilly to say the least, but the journey did t take long, as they reached a vault-like door, that began to open up. Once it did, the inhabitance of the vault saw to where they were being led to. It was a pipe-filled room of sorts, with odd chambers attached to the end of them at the walls. Each occupant walked up to the chambers, as they hissed open, revealing them a kind of chamber seat bed inside as the doors had on them a window big enough for the occupant to be seen from head to waist.

Cody stood by his chamber as instructed, taking a deep breath for whatever awaited him or the others. The comms then spoke out, "Okay then, disrobe and step into the chambers."

Everyone did as they were told, despite the modesty situation, as Cody did too. They disrobed, allowing the robes to fall on the ground, and they were settled into the chambers as they were all seated in place, as the doors closed on them. Cody looked out the window, as he took a deep breath, telling himself that after the 180 days, he would hope to see his family again. But then suddenly, a flash of cold shot in the chamber, as he felt himself freeze over. Before his mind could process what was going on, he could see as his vision was fading the Vault staff picking up the robes, and walking off, though he managed to hear one of htem saying something.

"The cryo-stations are working perfectly. All we need to do is wait and leave."

'Cryo? Wha..." Cody thought, as he suddenly began to drift asleep as the cold was taking over. And then finally, it won over him as all went black, and his consciousness faded into the cold night.

All now he could do was sleep until he would be woken up again. But as he drifted off, he could hear his father's final words echo in his mind as he drifted to a dark sleep…

"No matter what happens, son. Live and Survive."

Next Chapter: Awaken to a New World