Kirk fell on his knees, groaning in pain while covering his eyes. 'This must be the sun.' he thought. It was blinding and painful, but it was getting better as he kept peeking out of his hands to get used to it. After a few minutes, it subsided, and he could see clearly. He walked forward and sat on the edge of the cliff outside the vault. Processing everything that had happened. He held his head in his hands, working through all the emotions trying to get himself in order. He knew some mental health practices thanks to his dad and medical studies, so he started focusing on his breathing. Soon, he felt calm and more together. He took the holotape out and inserted it into his PIPBOY and hit play.
"Hold on, Jonas, I need to record this first. I don't really know how to tell you this. I hope you'll understand, but I know you might be angry. I thought about it for a long time, but in the end I decided it was best for you not to know. So many things could have gone wrong, and there's really no telling how the Overseer will react when he finds out. It's best if he can blame everything on me. Obviously, you already know that I'm gone. It was something I needed to do. You're an adult now. You're ready to be on your own. Maybe someday, things will change and we can see each other again. I can't tell you why I left or where I'm going. I don't want you to follow me. God knows life in the Vault isn't perfect, but at least you'll be safe. Just knowing that will be enough to keep me going." "Don't mean to rush you, Doc, but I'd feel better if we got this over with." "Okay. Go ahead. Goodbye. I love you."
Kirk stared at the screen for a few minutes after it was done. What could be so important to him? He always said he was his pride and greatest achievement. Yet, he left him with this? This vague farewell? He felt abandoned and frustrated. 'Well, Pops, your plan failed. The Overseer went bonkers, and now I'm out here with you, so...guess I'm coming to find you and punch you in the damn mouth.'
He stood up and examined his surroundings. He can see the desolation of what looks like a small town. In the distance, he could make out a giant structure. 'Well, guess I'll look at this place, then head for the structure.' he thought. He made his way through the town with his pistol out. He still didn't know how to use it since he only ever shot his BB gun. Regardless, he felt safe with it out. He froze and aimed down the road. A metal ball was floating toward spouting something he couldn't make out. He stood his ground as it floated closer, now hearing a message about America. It floated by him like he wasn't there. Kirk watched it go and decided to leave it as is. He looked at the desolation around him. Nothing. 'Is this what it's like everywhere? Are there even people alive out here?' he wondered. 'Why would my father come out here if this is all there is? No. There have to be people out here. He claimed it was important, so there has to be something. People must be living out here, too. The floating robot half confirms that. Its message has to be playing for someone to hear it.' he thought.Kirk walked further down the road until he came across a sign with yellow paint saying MEGATON. He followed the signs for about an hour until he came to the giant structure. He notices a robot outside the gate. He did not, however, notice the man above the gate looking down on him. Kirk approached the gate but stopped when he heard cries for help. Kirk turned to see an older looking man running toward him with his hands bound. Kirk raised his pistol, not sure what to do, but lowered it when he saw the man wounded. The man collapsed in his arms and said weakly, "Water...please... help." Kirk laid him down as best he could and opened his pack. He pulled out a can of water and his first aid kit. He went to open it but the man asked, "Wait..what is...that?" "Water." Kirk responded and cracked it open and handed it to him. The man took it and gently sipped. His eyes widened, and he started chugging it desperately. Kirk watched him, ready to grab another one from his pack if need be. The man finished it all and looked at him. "You gave me... clean water? Thank you! Thank you!" he cried with tears and hugging Kirk. Kirk was confused, clean water? This was just water to him. Once the man let him go, Kirk opened his kit. "I'm gonna treat your wound. Could you lift up your shirt?" The man crying lifted it up. Kirk was horrified. The man was covered in cuts, bruises, burns, and a bullet wound. 'Oh no, my kit is not enough for this. How the hell is he walking?' Kirk turned toward the robot.'Hey! He needs help! Open up!" he cried. The robot waved to him in response. 'What the hell?' Kirk thought.
The man above the gate got on a radio, "Hey Sheriff, get Doc and come to the gate please, got a situation." An older black man with a cowboy hat resting at a table grabbed the radio receiver and responded, "Send Jericho with Doc." He put it back down. "Simms, this is a situation you don't want to delegate." the man responded. Simms opened his eyes and responded, "Fine." He got up and headed for the gate meeting Doc Church on the way.
A loud noise erupted near the robot, and Kirk watched as the gate lifted open by a turbine. Two men walked toward him, and he gripped his pistol tight, unsure if they were friendly. Simms stopped a few yards away and studied the man. He was young, a teenager, if he had to guess wearing a clean vault suit. With dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. Clean shaven, which you never see, and unbelievably clean. With a complexion you never see out here. Based on looks, this kid might be a legit Vault Dweller. Simms couldn't remember the last time he saw a real one. "Calm down, son, you can put that iron away." he stated. Kirk did not, but he did relax. He responded, "This man needs medical attention, I can help him, but I don't have the correct tools and medicine." Simms raised an eyebrow, "He a friend of yours?" he asked. "No, I just met him, but why does that matter? He his gravely injured. Please help." Kirk responded. Simms smiled and nodded to Doc. The other man walked up and knelt down to the wounded man. "Raiders, Simms." was all he said. "Fuck." Simms responded, "Let's get them both inside." He turned toward the gate and held up two fingers. A moment later two men ran out with a stretcher. They loaded the wounded man onto it and carried him inside.
Kirk followed, and as they entered, he stopped and stared in wonder. A whole bustling city was what Megaton was. People walking around, kids playing, stalls with people shouting out. It was huge and tall as Kirk looked up to see multiple ramps and levels going higher. Men and women with guns walked among the crowd of people, smiling and talking as they went. Kirk had never seen so many people. 'So their is civilization out here. It was a lie by the Overseer. People are living out here and thriving.' Kirk thought amazed. Simms had been watching Kirk as they entered and noticed his surprise. This only confirmed he was a true Vault Dweller. He turned to Kirk and said, "Welcome to Megaton."