Adventure Time © Pendleton Ward/Cartoon Network
Fallout © Bethesda/Interplay
Marceline looked to the control panel of the Cryo Pod.
She zeroed in on a big red button, took a deep breath...and pressed it.
There was a hiss, followed by the sound of cracking ice.
Marceline looked back to the pod's window...and watched as Aiden opened his eyes, and gasped.
Marceline jumped back as a hand slapped against the glass.
With a loud hiss, and a crack. the pod's front opened up like the lid of a sarcophagus.
The human dressed in a blue-and-yellow jumpsuit dropped out, falling to the ground in a shivering heap.
He gasped as he inhaled air into his lungs for the first time in over a century.
Marceline kept her distance, not wishing to frighten Aiden.
But she edged closer as his breathing sounded harsher and ragged.
"are you...okay?" asked Marceline.
"wh-who's that? y-you're not...my mother. WHO ARE YOU?!" spoke Aiden, still shivering.
"My name is Marceline." spoke Marceline, still keeping her distance.
It was then that Aiden looked up...and Marceline covered her mouth in shock.
Aiden's eyes looked glossy and white. Almost like a layer of frost was covering them.
"wa-where are you? Why is it so dark!?" exclaimed Aiden, panicking.
"oh my grob..." spoke Marceline, realizing that Aiden was blind.
Marceline quickly knelt down, and placed her hands upon Aiden's shoulders.
"It's okay...don't panic. I'm right here." said Marceline.
"Why can't I see anything?" asked Aiden, who kept turning his head around.
"you were frozen. in a Cryogenic...Thing." began Marceline.
"I...I think your eyes are still frozen. We should get you out of here so they can thaw-"
"I was...Frozen?!" spoke Aiden, in shock. "but...but Mom, she-"
Aiden then gasped. "mom...where is she?, WHERE IS MY MOTHER!?"
Marceline looked at Aiden with hesitation. "Aiden, I-"
"how long?" spoke Aiden, his tone low and cold. "HOW. LONG. was I frozen in that Cryo Pod?"
Marceline looked away, feeling an empty feeling deep within her. She didn't want to tell Aiden...
...but she knew she had no choice.
"198 years." said Marceline, finally. "It's 2287 now."
a look of shock formed on Aiden's face...and then tears started to form in his frozen eyes.
"no...No, it can't be! it...it can't. m-mom, she...she's-"
In that moment, Aiden could no longer hold back his emotions.
The boy broke down in uncontrollable sobbing, tears freezing over his cheeks.
Marceline's empathy caused her to also tear up...so she did the only thing she could think of.
Without giving it a second thought, she put her arms around Aiden and hugged him tight.
"I'm sorry, aiden..." spoke Marceline softly. "for what it's worth, I understand your pain: I lost my mother too."
Aiden's sobbing quieted down, but still persisted. "what am I gonna do?!... I'm all alone now."
Marceline looked at Aiden. She then carefully removed the frozen tears from is face.
"no... you're not. I'm here." began Marceline.
"In your mother's recording, she asked me to look after you. and even though we only just met... I want to help you."
Aiden fell silent, pondering his situation for a moment.
"help me up..." spoke Aiden "please."
Marceline grasped Aiden's torso, and gently lifted him back onto his feet.
She then put his arm over her to support his body while he tried to take a shaky step forward.
Aiden slipped, and nearly fell. But Marceline kept his body from dropping.
"just hold onto me...walk slowly." said Marceline.
"okay...th-thank you, uhhh...Marceline, is it?"
"yes. Marceline Abadeer." said Marceline.
"Aiden Madison." said Aiden.
"I know. I like your name. It's nice." said Marceline, trying to be friendly.
"I...like yours too." answered Aiden. "it's pretty."
Marceline blushed (glad in this moment that Aiden was blind, and couldn't see her.)
"would it be okay if...I called you Marcy?" asked Aiden.
Marceline grinned. "Only if I get to call you "Addie"
"deal." said Aiden.
Marceline smiled again as she helped Aiden out of the Cryo Chamber.
The change in temperature upon entering the tube-like tunnel was immediate.
Aiden breathed out softly as his chill faded, and the frost still on his body began to thaw.
"god, that feels so much better." said Aiden.
Marceline looked at Aiden. "how are your eyes?"
Aiden tried to stare ahead of him. "blurry, but better than being completely blind."
"oh, thank grob. I was worried for a moment."
Aiden eyed Marceline. "Grob?"
"oh...n-nevermind." stammered Marceline. "forget I said any-"
"are you okay, Marcy?" asked Aiden, suddenly.
Marceline looked at Aiden. "Of course!, why wouldn't I be?"
"well, my vision may not be very clear...but I can see well enough." began Aiden.
"and your skin complexion. it looks kinda...Pale. almost dead looking."
Marceline blushed a deep red, not ready to reveal what she REALLY was to Aiden.
What if he freaked out?!, there really was no easy way to tell him
that she was a not only a Vampire, but was also HALF DEMON!
"I, uhh...I have a...c-condition." spoke Marceline, her mind racing.
"what kind?" asked Aiden.
"the...the kind that, uhh...that makes my skin VERY sensitive to light." answered Marceline, grimacing.
"you mean...You have Photosensitive Dermatitis?"
Marceline looked at Aiden, puzzled. "Huh?"
"It's a skin condition that causes inflammation when exposed to sunlight." explained Aiden.
Marceline stared at Aiden, surprised. "uh...y-yeah. pretty much that. Wait, How do you-"
"My mom is...WAS, a scientist." answered Aiden. "I was given quite the education growing up in the Vault."
Marceline smirked. ("wow, Bonnie would just love you...sort of.")
"you're from the outside, aren't you?" continued Aiden.
"I...guess you could say that, yeah." answered Marceline.
"how I got here is very complicated. Not sure you would believe it."
"Considering the horror stories that I have heard about the outside world now,
I think I can have an open enough mind to believe anything, even if it does sound crazy."
Marceline stopped for a moment, pondering on what she should do next.
Should she tell Aiden the truth?, she was still afraid of scaring him.
"Aiden...before I tell you. Do you promise not to freak out on me?" spoke Marceline, her voice shaky.
"I'm not exactly...Normal. Or, at least *normal* like you are.
In fact, most people I have met are scared of me. and I...I don't want you to be scared of me...too."
Aiden did his best to look at Marceline. his vision was starting to clear up,
he could vaguely make out the face of his new companion, seeing a grey and black shape.
"if you wanted to hurt me...you would've already." spoke Aiden. "whatever you have to tell me...I promise I won't be scared."
Marceline looked into Aiden's eyes as they slowly regained their color.
She then inhaled...and spoke: "I'm a Vampire, Aiden."
Aiden froze, staring blankly. "okaaay..."
"I wasn't always, though. I WAS a vampire hunter...and I was damn good at it.
So good, that I practically wiped them out. But the last one I slew manage to bite me, and-"
"You got infected." finished Aiden.
Marceline nodded, but still frowned (unwilling to reveal that she was also half demon)
"yeah...I'm one of them now." said Marceline quietly.
"Does that mean you feed on plasma?" asked Aiden.
"If your asking if I drink blood, I CAN. but I try not to." answered Marceline.
"I try to drink the red coloring from other things, like Apples and Strawberries."
"Really?" spoke Aiden, both confused and astonished.
"yeah. so, don't worry about me biting you...I won't."
"good to know. But that isn't as complicated as you made it sound." said Aiden.
"I've read my mom's reports, and it is very common for people outside
to be infected and mutated because of the high levels of radiation."
"yeah, well...here's the part that IS weird: I am over 1000 years old."
"Interesting, but Still not that weird based on my mother's notes on irradiated biology." said Aiden.
"Then how does: "I'm from The Future!" grab ya?" said Marceline, finally.
Aiden made a dumbfounded expression. "okay...*THAT* counts as weird. HOW are you from the future!?"
Marceline shook her head. "I don't know...I still don't know how I got here.
What I do know was that I was born not long after the old world was destroyed by the war.
I grew up doing my best to survive in the wastelands, and I lived to see a new world rise from it's ashes.
but somehow...I ended up over 900 years in the past, and I have no idea how to get back to my time."
Marceline looked at Aiden, who by now had regained his sight, and was looking right at her.
"you don't even believe me...do you?" inquired Marceline.
Aiden took a moment to look at Marceline. he stared at her pale face, her ruby red eyes.
He caught a glance at the two bite marks on her neck, and the type of clothes she was wearing.
Her clothes looked new, and not at all aged and worn like what he would expect
from someone who was literally from irradiated wasteland outside of the Vault.
"I believe you." said Aiden, bluntly.
Marceline looked stunned. "you...d-do?!"
"Marcy, I've seen nuclear powered hovercars, sentient automatons, Mechanical suits of armor,
and a computers you can wear on your wrist...and that was BEFORE the bombs dropped.
Time Travel may not be a common form of science, but isn't beyond the realm of possibility.
So if you say that you are from the year 3000, then I have no reason to believe you are lying."
Marceline smiled, happy that her new friend was understanding. "thanks."
"you have...the LONGEST hair I have ever seen." said Aiden, changing the subject.
Marceline blushed as she lightly brushed away some loose bangs.
"it's...hard to work on your hair when you can't see your own reflection."
"I think it looks okay." repeated Aiden.
Marceline smirked. "flirt."
Now it was Aiden's turn to blush, and look away. "ss-sorry. I d-didn't mean it like-"
"No worries, It's cool." said Marceline.
"you're not bad looking, yourself. BUT you could use a better wardrobe.
That jumpsuit that you're wearing kinda makes you look like a dork."
Aiden looked at his arm sleeve for a moment. "Really?, I never questioned it."
"eh, Don't worry. I'm sure we'll find something better."
The pair finally reached the elevator leading out.
"Okay, it'll get kinda cramped in there." said Marceline.
"good thing we're both skinny as flagpoles then." joked Aiden.
Marceline snickered as she and Aiden entered the tube.
And it was indeed a tight fit, with Marceline and Aiden sandwiched together.
(Aiden froze, his face turning red upon feeling Marceline's chest pressed against his.
True, she wasn't 'busty' by any means. But he certainly felt softs mounds that made him feel awkward.
He wasn't the only one feeling awkward. It wasn't lost on Marceline that her 'chest pillows'
were squishing against Aiden, and was doing her best to not move and make the situation 'worse.'
Neither of the two said a word as the elevator lifted up, which seemed to take forever.)
Stepping out of the Elevator, Marceline helped Aiden out and approached the staircase leading to the top floor of the Overseer's Office.
Marceline stopped short of the first step.
"why did you stop?" asked Aiden, confused.
Marceline looked at Aiden. "aiden...there is something up there that-, that you may find...Upsetting."
"my mom is up there...isn't she?" said Aiden, monotoned.
Marceline nodded sadly. "I'll cover her up so you don't have to-"
"no." said Aiden, bluntly. "no...I need to see her."
"you won't like what you see." said Marceline.
"I still need to see her...or this vault will forever haunt me." said Aiden.
Marceline let out a deep sigh. "...okay."
With that, Marceline helped Aiden walk up the stairs and up to the office.
As the round desk moved, closing the hidden passage back up Adien looked,
and immediately covered his mouth and gasped at a familiar form laying on a far off bed.
"m-mom?" Aiden approached, and stared blankly at the dry skeleton in tattered clothing.
tears formed in his eyes and fell down his cheek as he continued to stare, his body frozen in place.
Marceline kept her distance, daring not approach Aiden. she could only imagine what was going through his head right now.
After a long minute, Aiden finally walked closer. The young man fell to his knees...and cried over the bones of his long dead mother.
Marceline chose this moment to approach the grieving human.
She knelt down beside Aiden, and gently touched his shoulder with her hand.
"i'm sorry." said Marceline, her voice soft.
"she...died alone." spoke Aiden, still in shock.
"she was...all alone (*sobs*) why?...why did she do it!?"
Marceline tried to think of something to say to console Aiden.
She then recalled the audio recording that her own mother left her...when she died.
(("marceline...you're there aren't you? Brave girl. I'm sorry I had to trick you. (*Coughs*)
But you're tough enough to handle this world on your own. And it's not gonna change you because...
...you have a good heart. I love you, Marceline. I hope you can forgive me."))
Marceline shed a tear as she remembered how she felt growing up without her mother.
For YEARS, she thought her mother had abandoned her out of fear of what she was.
Only to learn 1000 years after she was already long gone that she was wrong.
Her mother DID love her, and only left her because she was already dying.
"maybe...she didn't want you to watch it happen." spoke Marceline, finally.
Aiden remained silent. so Marceline continued to speak.
"my mother did the same thing...and I was just a little girl at the time.
and while a part of me is still angry about it, I...I get why she tricked me.
I...I forgive her for lying to me. she was my mom, and I will love her forever."
Aiden shed one more tear...and then forced a smile. "yeah...me too."
Aiden gently touched his mother's lifeless skull with the back of his hand.
"I love you mom...and I forgive you. goodbye."
Aiden then grasped a blanket on the bed, and overed his mother's remains with it.
He then hunched over and again started to cry, unable to hold back his emotions.
Marceline wrapped her arms around the grieving man, and held him tightly.
She rested her head against him, as if her hug would somehow drain away his pain.
and while Aiden continued to grieve over his loss...Marceline somehow made it hurt less.
[Later]
Marceline was leaning against a wall beside a door, casually strumming the chords of her Axe-Bass.
Aiden had taken his mother's body into her room and requested some time for himself.
Understanding full well that those who grieve sometimes need some time alone,
Marceline obliged and had been waiting outside the door for about 10 minutes.
Just then, the door swooshed open and out came Aiden.
"Hey...y-you okay?" asked Marceline, concerned.
Aiden wiped his eyes clean. "I'm...not sure. I'll live, but...well, I laid mom to rest."
Marceline took a peek inside the room.
Said room looked like the kind of thing that a scientist might have.
Big bookshelves full of old books, a desktop computer and a worktable.
But what caught her attention was a locker laid on the floor,
with some vases of flowers set beside them, along with some lit candles.
Marceline quickly figured that Eileen's bones were in the locker,
which Aiden had made into a makeshift coffin (which would make the room now a Mausoleum, or Tomb.)
"that looks...nice." spoke Marceline.
Aiden closed the door, and locked it. he paused for a moment, placing his hand upon the cold steel door.
Marceline touched his shoulder yet again and looked at him with soft eyes.
"are you SURE you're okay?" asked the Vampire.
"never said I was." answered Aiden, quietly.
Aiden then breathed out, turned around and started to walk away slowly.
Marceline floated over and hovered near him. never once breaking her gaze from the human.
"soo...what now?" asked Marceline.
Aiden stopped, inhaled deep...and then answered.
"I can't stay here anymore...with my mother gone, this Vault is more of a Tomb than a Shelter."
"especially with all the edibles being gone." added Marceline.
"Hopefully 200 years is enough time for the outside world to be livable again." continued Aiden.
"I don't know what lies in store for me out there...but I can't stay here."
"don't you mean "We?" inquired Marceline.
Aiden looked at Marceline nervously "w-well...I wasn't sure if you wanted-, I mean you don't HAVE to..."
Aiden then sighed. "I do appreciate all you've done for me, Marcy. but I'm sure you have better things to do than waste your time on me."
"It's my time to waste." answered Marceline. "and besides. In your mother's recording, she asked me to look after you.
Now, I know it wasn't literally to me. But she was still counting on me to protect her son.
I know what it's like...trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
And the one thing I learned from all that is that it's much easier surviving with a companion, than on your own.
I mean...you CAN do it solo. But it's better to have someone there to help you."
Marceline then made Aiden look at her.
"I had someone once...and I shudder to think what might've happened if he wasn't there.
I see a lot of myself in you, and right now...you NEED someone to watch your back.
So whether you like it or not, I *AM* coming with you. You can try and run all you want, but I'll stick to you like your own shadow."
Aiden looked at Marceline...and then teared up and smiled. He then hugged Marceline (which surprised the Vampire a little)
"thanks marcy." whispered Aiden.
Marceline smiled, but then quickly pushed Aiden off. "Don't get all mushy on me, now."
"sorry..." spoke Aiden, blushing. "I don't have the best social skills."
"Considering you've spent a decade locked in a vault with your mother...Yeeeeah." smirked Marceline.
"Gee, when you put it THAT way-"
"ANY-way...What's the game plan, Addie?" said Marceline, wanting to change the subject.
"Well, like I said: We don't know what's out there for sure..." began Aiden.
"So we need to take some time and prepare for when we leave.
I'm going to go to my old room first. there are things in there that I CAN'T leave behind.
After that, we'll hit the Storage Room and try to see if there is anything useful left to take."
Marceline grinned. "Awesome Plan."
Aiden smiled and blushed before finally walking off. Marceline followed close behind him.
a door slid open, and Aiden entered a room with Marceline right behind him.
The Vampire Woman paused as she examined the room's interior.
Like every other room in the Vault, it was like a cold metal box.
However, Aiden's old room had a bit more color to it.
There weren't very many items inside, but there were some that she found interesting.
"now where is tha-AH!, there it is. right where I left it..."
Marceline watched as Aiden approached a table, and picked up what she knew to be a Pip-Boy
(which made her freeze as she remembered that she was still wearing his mother's.)
"wow...almost Two Centuries, and it still works perfectly." mused Aiden.
"...aiden." spoke Marceline, her voice small.
Aiden turned to look at Marceline, who removed 'her' Pip-Boy as she approached.
"here. I shouldn't have this." said Marceline, presenting the Pip-Boy to Aiden.
"is that...Mom's Pip-Boy?" inquired Aiden.
Marceline averted her gaze, feeling shame. "it is...I took it thinking it would help me get out of this place.
But...I now know that was wrong of me. It was your mother's, so you should have it back."
Aiden stared at the device that had once belonged to his mother.
After a moment...he finally spoke: "I already got one...you keep it."
Marceline's ruby eyes shot open. "but-, It's not mine! It was your mother's...and I stole it."
"If you hadn't, I would've still been trapped in that Cryo Pod." said Aiden.
"I appreciate your honesty, but...I feel mom would want you to have it, all things considered."
Marceline looked at the bulky wrist device again. "I'm not sure about that. it still feels wrong for me to have this."
Aiden approached Marceline, and gently grasped the Pip-Boy.
He then smiled warmly as he latched it back onto Marceline slender wrist.
"it's okay, Marcy."
Marceline looked at Aiden, staring at him for a moment. she finally relented, and pulled her hand back away.
"I'll...try to be worthy of it." spoke Marceline.
Aiden smiled, and patted Marceline on the shoulder (who smiled back at him.)
With the moment passed, Aiden resumed his search and suddenly made a B-Line for something.
"YES!, there you are..."
Marceline looked, and saw Aiden open a case and pull out something that looked very familiar to her.
It was a guitar, almost shaped like a broadside axe with piano keys along it's edge.
"My dad's old Keytar..." spoke Aiden. "This was a birthday gift from my mom. I can't leave without it."
Smiling, Marceline approached. "can I...see it for a moment?, Bass Instruments are kinda my thing."
Aiden looked, and took note of the odd looking guitar that Marceline had with her.
"I can see that. well...Okay." said Aiden, as he handed his Keytar over to Marceline.
"Great!, here: Hold my bass for a moment."
Marceline immediately gave Aiden her Axe Bass (which the human stared at with wide eyes.)
"is this a...REAL Battle Axe?!" exclaimed Aiden.
"uh-huh!, It's an old family heirloom." explained Marceline, as she gripped Aiden's Keytar.
Aiden took a moment to examine Marceline's instrument.
He carefully touched its sharp edges, and gasped upon seeing it was a real, genuine blade.
Likewise, Marceline carefully examined Aiden's Keytar.
She strummed its strings to test how it sounded, as well as trying out its keys.
It made a sound that almost sounded like 1980s Synthwave. "Radical."
"Hey!, why don't we jam for a little bit." spoke Marceline, excitedly.
"what?" responded Aiden, bewildered.
"Let's jam together, just you and me." repeated Marceline. "might clear our heads."
"uhh...o-okay." stuttered Aiden, nervously. "d-do you want-"
"Naw, you can use mine for now." said Marceline. "I wanna try yours out if it's okay."
"umm...Okay."
Marceline smiled as she began to strum the chords of Aiden's Keytar.
She touched the keys, which generated synthetic backing music.
Aiden strummed the strings of Marceline Axe-Bass, doing his best to follow her lead.
"There's a town down the road, Where I ain't been before..." began Marceline, singing.
"Nobody knows my name. Or what I'm lookin' for
Maybe things will be a little different, 'Cause they can't stay the same
I'm gonna ease on down the road, Where nobody knows my name."
Aiden smiled as he started to play in tune with Marceline.
The music echoed in the room, and through the empty halls of the Vault.
"I've got to keep the dust a' movin', Up around my heels.
There might be a change for me. Just over that distant field.
Even when the past comes callin', Lookin' for somebody to blame.
I'll be easin' on down the road where nobody knows my name."
Marceline then closed her eyes, letting her hands blindly play
as her mind focused on some random memories...and shed a small tear.
"When the burnin' sun surrenders. Will they still remember me
I never told 'em I was goin', Out where the wind is blowin' free..."
Marceline 's hands then began to move rapidly,
making the most piercing sounds that Aiden had ever heard.
Marceline still had her eyes closed, her minds in a whole other world.
"If they think about me tonight. I know they won't miss the pain.
Cause I'll be takin' it down the road, Where nobody knows my name..."
Marceline finally slowed herself down. playing the final, softer notes of her song.
"I'm gonna ease on down the road...Where nobody knows my name."
As Marceline opened her eyes and stopped, Aiden stared with wide eyes.
"wow...you're really good." said Aiden, stunned.
Marceline grinned, flashing her fangs at the human. "Yeah...I know. Now let's hear a song from you."
"uhhh...I'm not really that good of a singer." said Aiden, modestly.
"come on, dude. I promise I won't laugh at you."
Aiden looked at Marceline, who gave him a friendly look that made him feel a little comfortable.
"well...okay. I'll try."
Aiden began strumming Marceline's bass, trying to find a good tune.
Eventually he found one he liked, and began to play while Marceline listened.
"Come along...
Will there be sunshine shinin'? Will we find a silver linin'? Come along.
Sing a song...
When today becomes tomorrow, Will we find joy or sorrow? Sing a song."
Aiden closed his eyes, strumming the Axe-Bass blindly
as he now focused his mind on whatever memories he could muster.
"Is it wrong?...
To put all our hopes together, And wish for somethin' better? Is it wrong?
To be loved...
To face the future with another, Who means more than any other. Is to be loved."
Marceline tilted her head, looking at Aiden as he sang his song.
For someone who didn't think much of himself, he wasn't a half bad musician.
He played her Bass quite well, and had a decent voice.
"...We'll paint the gray clouds. With pretty rainbow hues
And we'll brush the gloom away, And save it for a rainy day...Rainy day.
Oh, today. If troubles cast a shadow, And shadows make the sun afraid to stay
But it's okay.
'Cause there'll be sunshine shinin', And we'll find a silver linin'...Another day."
Aiden began to play softer as he neared the end of his song.
"Tomorrow is another day. How I hope you'll always stay.
Tomorrow is another day..."
With the song now over, Aiden opened his eyes and looked at Marceline. "um...was that good?"
Marceline responded with a simple thumbs up.
[To be Continued...]
[Author Notes]
And with this chapter, I finally reveal the secondary protagonist (and OC of this story.)
While I realize that OC's can have mixed reception towards some readers,
given how Fallout as a franchise was very "Custom Character" friendly I am hoping that readers
will be opened minded at Aiden Madison as a character.
The personality I am going for with Aiden is someone who is like a blend of Marceline herself,
Finn and a little of Princess Bubblegum in that he is intelligent, talented at music
but also noble and good natured.
(he is grateful to Marceline for helping him, and doesn't judge her for how she looks.
I feel a 'heroic' character in Fallout would have those kind of traits
that makes them...well, S.P.E.C.I.A.L.)
In coming chapters, Aiden will pretty much be the type of character
who would do a full on 'Good Karma' run in a typical playthrough of Fallout.
(and I ask that readers be patient, and not view Aiden as a "crybaby".
The guy just woke up and found out his mother is dead...who wouldn't cry about that?!)
This chapter was also meant to display Marceline's morality as well,
showing that behind her 'too cool to care' attitude, she is very compassionate.
(especially since Aiden's situation mirrors her own hardships,
so she would obviously give Aiden the comfort that she herself needed.)
It was a bit tricky choosing which songs for Marceline and Aiden to sing,
which was intended to inspire hope as they prepare for a journey into the unknown.
Well, Marcy was easy. But I really need to think on Aiden,
and not have it be too good or on-the-nose with the theme.
I apologize to readers hoping to see Marcy fight a Deathclaw soon,
but I am taking my time with this prologue,
as I feel THEY would take their time before leaving the Vault.
The Wasteland is a dangerous place, Afterall.
[Guest Review Answers]
"What state is this story taken place in?"
As the Vault I have chosen (Vault 110) isn't a canon vault
(in fact, no such Vault even exists at the moment)
I am keeping it vague at the precise location that the Vault is in.
HOWEVER, I chose the number "110" as the next number after it is "111"
(which is the starting vault in Fallout 4, which also had Cryogenic Pods.
The idea being that 110 was like a prototype to 111.)
It is possible that Vault 110 is close to Vault 111,
so the state Marceline is in may be Boston.
HOWEVER in the story, she and Aiden will do some travelling.
Meaning they may end up in other states as time goes on.
They might be in Boston NOW...but they could also end up in Washington,
California, Nevada (hell, even states NOT featured in a game yet!)
So I guess the simple answer is: "Whatever state you want it to be."
Remember, this is a Pilot for a larger story.
I haven't worked all those details out yet.
So if fans have suggestions, I will hear them.