At The Precipice Of Something New

Something Unlikley

Vault 114
February the 22nd, 2288
15:22

To say Vault 114 was nothing like Vault 111 would be a significant understatement, not the least of which being because it was apparently unfinished.

Between Vadim, the map, and a little more information from a grudging Myrna, they had found at least the place – the Vault – Nick had most likely disappeared in. After going down into a couple of old subway stations, Nora, Cait, and Piper finally found Vault 114. Having snuck past the little bits of security, and past a few raiders scavenging the decrepit station, the three women made their way through some of the old train cars and subway tunnels, having just barely snuck into the Vault through the partially open Vault blast door. A skip in her step, Piper smiled a bit, only a few paces behind Nora and Cait, a little too proud of how she had gotten Myrna to give up the last bit of information they needed. Always uncomfortable with people being too outwardly emotional (or too outwardly emotionless, lest they be a synth), Myrna had caved when Ellie had burst into tears in front of her and Danny. For his part, somewhat wracked by guilt, Danny had coaxed Myrna into telling them about the information she had heard from multiple caravaners about old Vaults in the area of the old city of Boston. In her bag was a folded up map she had (somewhat bribed, somewhat guilted) gotten from Myrna, who had received it from a caravaner that had passed through Vault-Tec's Regional Headquarters, knowing Nick would be excited to see it, the history of Vault-Tec and their Vaults a special interest of his.

Hearing a sudden rush of heavy footsteps, Cait grabbed Piper's wrist with one hand and Nora's with the other. The three of them went as still as possible, barely even breathing until they were sure they were alone again. A few seconds passed in silence, but soon they stepped out from the messy and unfinished corridors and into a shockingly large and mostly finished atrium. Slowing their footsteps upon hearing some voices at the other end of the atrium, Nora, Cait, and Piper all shared a long look before making their way up to the stairs to the second floor of the atrium as silently as possible. Her hands shaking from anticipation and her heart pounding in her chest, Nora reloaded her gun, hoping against hope they were in the right place. After going through several old subway stations only to find nothing, things had felt painfully lost. If this isn't the place, are we ever going to find him? Or will we be too late? We can't – Nora sighed, regaining her composure, and pulling Cait back to make sure she didn't accidentally blow their cover. Waving her and Piper behind a set of boxes piled up high by one corner, Nora glanced over the top of the boxes, crouched as low as possible to keep an eye on the end of the corridor.

Less than three feet away from her and Cait, Piper gasped when she realised the man at the end of the corridor was wearing a large pin on his collar, a pin Nick usually wore. Fury taking over her, the twenty three year old journalist checked to make sure her gun was loaded and ready to fire. For a minute, quick and swift whispers passed between the three women before they began to inch closer together, close enough to listen in to what the man was saying but not close enough to be noticed. Holstering her shotgun, Cait cracked her knuckles and then pulled out her twin switchblades, winking at Nora when she glanced over to her, surprised to see her put away her gun. She's something else...but why does she make me both nervous and excited? I barely even – Nora reached over and pulled Cait back just a little, a brief, shocking sensation startling her. Cait looked to her, worried, and then suddenly hugged her. Poor lass has been through fucking hell, but she still doesn't give up. I don't think even I'd still be around after all the shite she's faced. Nora eventually hugged her back, and closed her eyes for a moment, doing her best to focus on the voices she, Cait, and Piper could barely hear.

"...How you doing in there, Valentine?" The first voice taunted, sounding as though he were also chewing gum. "...Feeling hungry? Want a snack?"

"...Keep talking, meat head," The second voice yelled through the doors. "It'll give Skinny Malone more time to think about how he's going to bump you off, and –"