I awakened to the blistering light of the vault, glaring in my eyes like a flashlight in the dark. I rubbed my eyes and rolled lazily over to climb out of bed. Slowly I collected my watch and opened the door to my wardrobe. Pulled out my usual Vault 13 jumpsuit ready for yet another day of boring work. I, am a computer technician, I keep everything running smoothly around the vault, Along with keeping automated security under control. I slipped my shoes on and slumbered to the dining area where my best friend had already readied my breakfast for me. Seeing as she knew my routine day in and day out, it was little surprise. I slumped into my seat and picked up my spoon to start eating my sugar bombs. As I put my spoon in my mouth I looked up and everyone in the room was staring at me with the look of someone who just died. Y'know the concerned heart felt look people get in there eyes? Well I had 6 pairs of that look. I noticed this look and I was puzzled, even Akira my best friend had the look. I looked at her "you look like I've just come back from the grave, What's the deal?" I said sarcastically, She continued to look at me and replied wearily "The Overseer wants to see you".
That's when I felt my heart sink and I realised that I was either getting a promotion or like everyone's look suggests I'm in deep shit. After that I didn't really feel like eating so I pushed the bowl away and moved my chair back, which as if it could feel the tension in the room squealed a high pitched screech that would never have seemed so loud if everyone wasn't fixed on what I was doing. I moved out from my chair and pushed it back in to the table and set off to the Overseers office, Just as I got to the door Akira grabbed my arm and hugged me like she'd never hugged me before and whispered in my ear "Be careful". Puzzled I nodded and said "stop worrying" with that I set back on my path. The walk down the hallway that usually took seconds to walk seemed to take forever. I finally reached the Overseers office and knocked on the door with an exceptionally louder knock than I had intended. I heard a few bits and pieces being moved around and with that I heard "Come in!" I open the door almost expecting him to be standing directly behind the door waiting for me but to my relief he's sat in his chair with the main vault control panel just in front of him. He looks at me with an almost sympathetic look which puzzles me but I sit down opposite him anyway. I was about to open my mouth when he quickly stops me by raising a hand and then clasping them in front of him, I keep my mouth shut and wait.
He nods and then continues to look at me with that eerie look in his eyes the kind of look you'd find in your worst nightmares. He begins to speak "Look, Max. I won't lie to you. if I had another choice I would take it without hesitation, but to the best of my and everyone else's knowledge we have no choice". I raise an eyebrow "elaborate?" i say, curious. The overseer sigh's "I need to ask of you something I wished I'd never have to ask of anyone". I nodded and kept my mouth shut in fear of saying something stupid. He continued for a while rambling on about how much he regrets to have to ask such things of me or anyone I finally interrupt him and say "Just get to it already will you?" He nods and begins "I need you to go outside the vault, Our water chip has given up the ghost and we don't have enough water reserves to wait around to repair it. We need another water chip and fast". I kind of just stare blankly at him expecting I should know what to say at this moment but nothing comes to mind other than emptiness. The Overseer nods and says "I understand if you would rather not take this responsibility and the risk is overwhelming but you are the only one with previous fighting and survival skills so you were my obvious first choice, My next is Akira". Her name rings through my ears like alarm bells and instantly I perk up and know exactly what to say "I'll do it, Anything to keep the vault safe sir". The Overseer nods "Your courage and loyalty to the vault and it's people is admirable, I will upload co-ordinates to the only other vault we know of to your pip-boy that should be your first place to look". I nod and with that we have some idle conversation and I leave closing the door louder than I realised I had.
I stepped out I looked down the corridor and there were people collecting near the main lift more than I even knew lived in this vault. I made my way down the hallway and I don't think I even knew there were so many different looks people could have on their face. As I reached the end of the hallway I saw Akira standing closest to the lift. I quickly jotted into my room and grabbed a couple of water bottles and a old trusty 10mm pistol which I've never used in my life but if I'm ever going to need it, Now's the time. I quickly hid it in my utility belt so no one could see it because guns were prohibited inside the vault unless they were locked in the armoury. I started making my way to the lift. Akira stopped me and kissed me lightly on the lips. Which I was taken back by more than anything else, She looked at me and whispered "I'll wait for you" I nodded and with that I got into the lift and pressed the S button. "Surface" I said to myself, Christ what have I got myself into. I have no idea what to expect no one has been out of the vault for almost 120 years. I'm bearly a day over 19 and I only have fighting and survival skills because my great grandfather was in the war before the bombs fell. He taught his son everything he knew, as he did his son, and now as my father did me. He taught me everything he knew before he died 7 years ago.
Let's face it. It was me or Akira. I was clearly the obvious choice. I felt the lift stop and the doors open I stepped out and all I could see was darkness. There was nothing, a light came on at the top of the vault door that lit up the surrounding area, I looked around but couldn't see much I looked directly to my left and for the first time in my life saw what the surface could do to someone. A man I'm guessing lay face down in a pool of what looks like dried blood in front of the vault door control panel, Mutilated and violated by whatever may be dwelling in this cave I quickly checked his bag and found myself some more 10mm bullets and a knife which would come in handy. After I had done checking the man's bags I took my first few steps into the, well whatever it was. I got a few feet out and could her some scuttling around me I quickly whipped out my 10mil and loaded 12 rounds of hollow points and cocked the gun faster than I knew what I was doing, I was frantically trying to see through the very dim light but it wasn't working, Just then I saw something out the corner of my eye and instantly swung round and shot at it. I heard a screech and guts explode from what ever I just shot. I knelt down and tried to see but my efforts were futile.
After a few moments of staring at the dark floor i slapped myself in the forehead. "the light on my pip-boy!!!! DUH" I shouted to myself in a dumb sounding voice. Which eachoed loud and I quickly realised was probably a stupid thing to do. As I flicked on the area light on my pip-boy I realised I had shot what looked like a rat. Guts spilled like a broken jar of excrement, all over the rocky surface it was walking on. I shivered in disgust and my mind wandered onto more pressing matters. I made my way through the cave, at least that's the only word that describes what I've seen so far. I could see a dim light in one direction and followed it. 10 or so minutes passed and I was still walking towards this mysterious light. I killed maybe another 12 rats that were trying to knaw at my feet which surprisingly hurt when they got you, little ankle biters! Either way nothing was getting in my way of getting to Vault 15.
I ventured further into the cave and I had a realisation that I didn't before. The cave was warm, really oddly warm almost like it had it's own heating system. I heard a noise and my mind was quickly side tracked I spun round and pulled the trigger before I really looked at what I was shooting at. I heard the noise of a bullet squishing something in it's path as I got a little closer I realised I actually just shot a harmless chameleon that was crawling along the wall. I kind of felt bad but what's done is done. No time to dwell on the past. I kept moving quicker now due to the fact that the light was getting brighter. I could see the end of the cave and ran straight out. I looked out and was instantly blinded by sunlight. It was so bright like I had been born again. Like I was using my eyes for the very first time. It took a while for my eyes to adjust, I climbed a small hill and looked from the top quickly realising why the cave was warm and that there was nothing for miles in any direction.
End of Chapter 1
