Chapter 1

"Can I open my eyes now?"

"Not yet."

"I've lived here all my life, I can tell where you're bringing me."

"If you're that familiar with the vault then clearly you don't need to open your eyes to see where you're going."

"Dad."

"Okay, fine. Open them in three… two… one…"

"SURPRISE! Happy birthday!"

The young boy opened his eyes to see the cafeteria of the vault was full of residents and their Pokémon. They all clapped and laughed as the boy gazed in gaping wonder at the decorations and turn out. There was Mrs. Bailey from the Pokémart, with her Bulbasaur. And in the corner was old man Palmer, with his just-as-old Pidgey on his shoulder. Everyone wore what they always wore: a blue vault jumpsuit with a yellow stripe running down the center to another yellow stripe that wound around the waist. On the back were three large yellow numbers: 151, which was their vault's designation number.

"Happy birthday, Rad," his father said, clapping him on the back.

"All of this… for me?" Rad asked in awe.

"Well, it's not everyday that a boy turns ten, now is it?"

"Too right you are, James," said a tall man with gray hair. He smiled down at Rad and said, "Happy birthday, Rad. As you know, at ten years old vault residents are all given a very special device." He pulled out something Rad had been dreaming of for as long as he could remember. It was a wrist bound computer with a large display screen and knob to control the different interfaces. "There you are, son, your very own Silph-Boy."

"Thanks a lot, Overseer Oak!" Rad exclaimed jubilantly as he clasped the heavy wrist computer to his arm. The weight was much more than he had expected, but it was almost comforting. As if he'd been missing this weight his entire life.

"It's absolutely my pleasure, Rad," the Overseer said beaming. He looked to James and said, "May I have a word, Professor?"

"Can it wait?" Rad's father asked. "There's one more ten year old milestone that has to happen first."

Overseer Oak's mouth twitched downward slightly at being shrugged off, but he quickly slid on a smile as he said, "Certainly."

James looked to his son and nodded toward the diner counter. As they approached, James' assistant Jonas strolled to the counter holding a case. When he realized what that case was, Rad's breath caught in his throat. His father smiled warmly and put an arm around his shoulders as they stood before the case. Jonas put it on the counter and stepped back.

"Rad, as you know there is another tradition to be held at the age of ten," James explained, "and that is the choosing of your own partner Pokémon."

Jonas opened the case to reveal three red and white Pokéballs resting in a foam nest.

"Per the tradition, these Pokémon have been chosen at random," James explained. "Even I do not know which Pokémon have been uploaded to the balls. All I can tell you is that in each of these Pokéballs there rests one of the three base elemental types; fire, water, or grass. Choose wisely, son, because whichever you choose shall dictate your future occupation here in the vault."

Rad stared at the three balls. He had dreamt of this moment from the very first time he had witnessed the choosing ceremony, but which one to choose? Left, right, or center? This choice would dictate the rest of his life in the vault. It wasn't to be taken lightly.

"Get on with it, will you?" Cried a voice. One Rad knew all too well. "I want cake!"

"Now Haz," the Overseer warned, "don't be so impatient. It took you just as long to choose your Pokémon."

"Sorry, Gramps," Haz said, not sounding sorry at all. Haz was a boy mere months older than Rad. They had never seen eye to eye.

Rad focused back on the Pokéballs. His hand slowly reached out, leaning toward the right ball before quickly diverting and grabbing the ball on the left. A polite clapping from those around him, and he looked up at his father who beamed.

"Now, just plug the ball into your Silph-Boy, and you'll be synced."

Rad pulled a cable from the back of the wrist computer and plugged it into a port on the back of the ball. A chime echoed through the room, and the ball vibrated in his hand.

James swept his arm out to the room and said, "Okay, Rad. Show us all your pick!"

Rad tossed the Pokéball and it erupted in a red light. From within its confines emerged an orange canine with a light tan Mohawk and mane. Dark stripes lined its body, and when it opened its eyes they shone with intelligence. It turned its attention on Rad, whose face lit up with a childish delight.

"Growlithe!" The entire room cheered. The dog rushed to Rad and leapt into his arms, licking his face. The boy giggled as everyone laughed along with him.

"Congratulations, son!" James exclaimed. "A Growlithe is a brilliant Pokémon. Loyal to the end, they say. Take a look at your Pokédex!"

Rad looked at the screen of his Silph-Boy, which showed a notification. He twisted the knob, and the screen stuttered as it switched to the Pokédex. The following entry read,

#058 Growlithe: the puppy Pokémon.

Extremely loyal, it will fearlessly bark at any opponent to protect its own Trainer from harm. In prewar times it was known for being the companion of many security officers.

"It looks like we have a future security man!" A woman with blue hair said cheerily. "We'll love to have you on the team when you're bigger!"

"Thanks, Officer Jenny," Rad said meekly.

The Overseer cleared his throat and said, "Yes, congratulations. Now, James, about that word I asked for?"

James sighed and said, "Yes, very well."

The two men left the cafeteria, leaving Rad with the rest of the vault. Haz approached the newly minted Pokémon wielder. He was a self proclaimed bad boy, wearing a red leather jacket with a patch on the back of an Ekans in the shape of an S. He was backed up by his two goons Indy and Charlie who tried to look tough, but really only succeeded in looking present.

"Look at that mangy mutt," Haz laughed. "He's barely even worth being dog meat!" His goons hyucked along with him.

Rad flushed and said, "You're big and brave now that Grampy Overseer is out of the room, huh?"

Haz snarled and said, "I'm the baddest guy in this joint, twerp! Me and my Ekans have the run of the place, you know that!"

"Oh yeah," Rad scoffed, "you're so bad. Nothing more bad boy than stealing Jigglypuff bandages from the infirmary."

"Why you…" Haz growled and then he took a beat. "Fine, tough guy, you want to prove how tough you are? Let's have a Pokémon battle! Right here, right now!"

"Don't you dare!" One of the vault residents snapped. "You kids know the rules. If you're going to Pokémon battle, do it in the vault gym!"

Haz rolled his eyes. "Fine. You and me, Pokémon battle. In the gym. Five minutes! If you don't show, we'll know you're just a coward!"

"You're on, Haz!" Rad snapped.

"C'mon, boys," Haz said, snapping his fingers. "Let's blow this joint. Tunnel Ekans rule!"

"Tunnel Ekans rule!" The other boys responded in kind.

As the three of them marched out of the cafeteria, Jonas approached Rad.

"You sure it's a good idea to fight Haz, kid?" He asked. "You only just got your Growlithe."

Rad flicked his nose with his thumb and puffed out his chest. "I'm not scared of Haz. He's all bark no bite, right Growlithe?"

The small pup barked confidently, and Jonas chuckled and said, "Okay, have it your way. Good luck, kiddo, and happy birthday."

"Thanks, Jonas!" Rad said, running out of the cafe with Growlithe in tow. They ran through the halls, toward the gym, but the boy slowed when he heard raised voices ahead. He and Growlithe looked at one another quizzically and then crept along, following the voices.

It was Rad's father and the Overseer. They were having a heated conversation.

"—the vault is fully secure," the Overseer snapped. "It withheld the Megaton blasts for Arceus' sake! I think it can hold off some basic wasteland trash."

"You have no idea who you're dealing with," James urged. "If the reports I've heard are true—"

"How many times have I told you to cut contact with the outside?" The Overseer hissed. "As far as the younger generation knows, the vault has always been closed, and they're to keep thinking that! If word got out that you and your son came from the outside… I perish the very thought of it. Leave this alone, James, that's an order from your Overseer. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Overseer," James sighed.

"Good," Oak said, clearing his throat. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to."

Rad and Growlithe rushed off before being noticed, and Rad's mind was abuzz with all of this new information. The vault used to be open? He and his dad were from… out there? And what was this strange communication his dad had with the outside? They'd always been told it was impossible to communicate with the outside world.

Why would the Overseer lie to them? And more importantly… why would Rad's father lie to him?