A/N: Hello, this is a rewrite of Legacy of the Lone Wanderer. Don't worry, I have permission from the original Author as we are family. He has told me he is deleting his old works but I am able to use what he already has.

…..

Updated: 6/3/2015

Fallout 3

Legacy of the Lone Wanderer

Part 1- A Hostile World

Chapter 1- You are born and you die in the vault

I was walking with my squad of heavy armored soldiers in this war torn city that looked like a hell hole. We walked in no particular formation down the streets patrolling and watching out for enemies. This place may have been purified by a brother whom had left a vault but now we are in a war. I stopped and looked at a large tall white building that was war torn but closer to me there was a bus that had been torn in half. The sounds of gun firing and explosions filled the air in the distance of the city. I hear screams of pain muffled by the sounds of war. I saw a missile flying towards a target in the blind spot of our patrol that was across the intersection of a street closer to the tall white monument. It impacted somewhere causing an explosion.

The bus along with the ground shook. It seemed that the explosion somehow activated an old prewar radio as it played a song loudly:

I don't want to set the world on fire. I just want to start a flame in your heart.

In my heart I have but one desire and that one desire is you No other will do.

I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim. I just want to be the one you love

The music started dying as the radio began to dye. And with your admission that you feel the same. I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of Believe me...

The music stopped. I was vaguely aware of a fellow squad mate walking up and looking in the buses direction. I looked at him and he looked at me with his armor and helmet hiding his emotions and expressions. I could however hear his breathing. He held his weapon in a ready position like mine then looked pass me. He pointed at something behind me and I turned to look.

There were two flying vehicles with two propellers flying over pass us over the streets and two more flew below the building tops down the street towards us and began to land in a cleared out area. A squad of five black armored soldiers unloaded from each of them with large rotary weaponry. They all began to march in no particular fashion towards us apparently not spotting us. One by one the aerial vehicles began to hover over their landing point for a split second and flew right towards us. The front one unleashed a barrage of bullets from a mounted mini-gun that was stationed on the front of it. I and my brothers in arms took cover behind rubble and old destroyed cars to avoid the fire. The other launched a missile which exploded down the street they flew towards. The two vehicles flew out of the streets and towards the monument and swerved around either side of it missing it. I sat against this car facing the way they flew. I remembered what our mentor told us about war, where he came from, the brainwashing that goes down in there, and I started remembering the history I learned from my organization. I thought to myself:

War...War never changes. Since the dawn of human kind, when our ancestors first discovered the killing power of rock and bone, blood has been spilled in the name of everything, from God to justice to simple, psychotic rage.

In the year 2077, after millennia of armed conflict, the destructive nature of man could sustain itself no longer. The world was plunged into an abyss of nuclear fire and radiation. But it was not, as some had predicted, the end of the world. Instead, the apocalypse was simply the prologue to another bloody chapter of human history. For man had succeeded in destroying the world – but war...war never changes.

In the early days, thousands were spared the horrors of the holocaust by taking refuge in enormous underground shelters, known as vaults. But when they emerged, they had only hell of the wastes to greet them...all except those in Vault 101. For on the fateful day, when fire rained from the sky, the giant steel door of Vault 101 slide closed...and never reopened. It was here you were born. It is here you will die. Because, in Vault 101 no one ever enters and no one ever leaves...

I opened my eyes and got in a position for a defense. We all began firing at our attackers, red beams flying towards them from our weaponry. They returned fire with red beams and one of them caused fire to rain from the sky. I moved out the way and one of my brothers pulled a missile launcher off his back and fired one right in the middle of the enemy's offensive line killing two. I was leaning against the wall of a building at that moment, and then fired at one of the soldiers advancing on our position. We won surprisingly without casualties and walked cautiously towards the dead patrols. One of them was still alive, but barely. He lay there gasping for air and pulled out a pistol aiming at me. I quickly aimed and shot my weapon right at his head killing him.

I looked up at one of my brothers who looked back at me and nodded. I looked into the setting sun with one hand holding onto my weapon. "War is hell," I thought to myself, "Is this how it was for you? Or did you learn to survive and become famous while doing it? You are indeed the Lone Wanderer and the hero of the Wastes, if you can go through all of this."

….

….

….

James

My name is James Medicus Warren. I live in Vault 101 and by order of the Overseer, Alphonse Almodovar, I always have. I was lucky to get in here with my newborn son. His mother died of child birth and I was alone with him. So I decided to leave the Hellish Capitol Wasteland and see if I can find a life for my son, a better one. I was lucky to get in Vault 101 because Alphonse was in desperate need of a medical doctor and there wasn't a good enough experienced one in the vault, until I came. But I knew that if my son ever found out the truth of where he came from he would want to explore it. So I adopted the Overseer's saying. Everyone is born in the vault, everyone dies in the vault. No one ever comes in and no one ever leaves.

I named my son his mother gave him by her dying wish. His name is Nathan Adams Warren. I gave him that name and one day I hope his name will be marked in history for something good. But really dreams can only take you so far. You have to work on that dream for it to exist. I left good people behind to live in a safer environment underground. My career started off well, I made a few friends and I was finally able to help good people. My friend Jonas became my assistant because that was what he was supposed to be on the Vault's G.O.A.T Exam. He was fond of my son and often helped me out looking after him. Every night though when my son was tired I'd read him a passage from the bible, one that was Catherine's favorite. Revelation 2:16 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

….

I began to realize that my son was special around when he was one years old. He was playing with his toys in our room. I was in his playpen watching him intently. He wore his baby-wear and was playing with his teddy bear.

"Nathan," I called ushering him over to me. I knew it would be a little hard for him to come over, he had just started walking. "Come here son."

He looked at me with his light brown eyes and his Teddy Bear and made a baby noise. "Come here buddy." I said still ushering him over. He staggered towards me with his Teddy Bear in his tiny arms. He was almost to me giggling a little bit. I picked him up with him still holding his Teddy Bear in his arms.

"Look at you," I said to him holding him in my arms, "Only a year old and walking like a pro." I sat him down and walked out the playpen. I closed the door behind me as he grunted because I did. I put a toy car in with him and said, "Listen kiddo. I know you don't like it when I leave you in here by yourself but I have to run to my office and get a few things. I'll only be for a minute."

Nathan blinked and sat down with his toy bear. I walked out our room and closed the mechanic door behind me. I hated leaving him in there by himself but he wasn't allowed in the medical office on Alphonse's orders. I walked around in the hall and saw him playing with the toy car through the window. I walked pass a few other residential suites and up some stairs. My office was right beside his future classroom. I grabbed a clipboard and a file folder and made my way back to my suite. I put the stuff I got on a coffee table and went in our room.

What I saw amazed me. He was out of the open playpen with his teddy bear looking at a page in a book donated from the vault called "You're Special." To be able to get out he would have to climb up and release the latch on the other side.

I couldn't help but laugh a little. "You are quite the little explorer aren't you?" I asked as he looked up at me. I walked over and sat on the ground next to him near a framed picture of the passage Catherine loved. He went to get up but fell forward on my leg grunting. I chuckled and said, "Easy now, you'll fall asleep if you keep exploring like that." I know he probably didn't understand what I was saying but babies needed to have someone talking to them. It would make them happier as they grew up. But he was the only family I had apart from a younger brother somewhere down South from the capitol wasteland so I planned to talk to him all the time.

"You know what your mother's favorite passage is?" I asked contently and picking up the framed photo and showed him. He looked at it with an amazed expression and making a baby laugh. "Revelation 21:6 – I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."

He laughed again when I finished. Then I remembered what Lilia Almodovar suggested one day to me. Lilia is the wife of Alphonse the overseer and they both had a daughter named Amata. Lilia suggested that Nathan and Amata should play together one day since they got along so well in kiddy school.

"Come on," I said to him and picking him up, "Let's go see if your little friend Amata wants to play." I got up and carried him out the door. We walked down the hallway towards the Overseer's quarters.

Nathan has been growing up so fast. He always wants to learn something. I learned he was no ordinary child when he kept escaping the playpen I tried to keep him in while I was gone for short periods of time. Other times I'd see him looking at kid's books trying to read them or whatever. I am sad to know that his friend, Amata's mother died when she was only two years old. Now that he was older I was allowed to have him in the clinic with me and Jonas. Jonas' father was once the head officer of the vault and knew some hand to hand combat techniques. Jonas did teach him how to punch correctly without breaking his wrist in the process and where to kick if he ever needed to fight, hopefully that day will never come. But Nathan did like helping us even when he was just a seven year old kid.

….

Nathan

I walked slowly down a hallway on the commons level of the vault. I was told simply to come to the cafeteria. I don't know why I was asked to but my dad did wish me a happy birthday this morning when I woke up. He let me sleep in today but he did tell me to come to the cafeteria in a few minutes. So here I was at the window of the cafeteria near the door. I couldn't see inside because of how frosted the window was. The lights were turned off and everything. I wondered if there was another cafeteria my dad was talking about. Nevertheless I pressed a button on the door control panel and the door slid open. I couldn't see anything but I walked in.

"Hello?" I asked the apparent empty room. The door slid closed behind me and I was engulfed in darkness. That darkness lasted a few seconds then a flash of bright light all but blinded me.

"Happy Birthday!" A lot of people yelled. I rubbed my eyes astounded at the sight in the room and sounds of clapping. There were a lot of people in the room and a robot known as Andy. There was a vault security officer there uniformed except for his helmet, dad, Amata, a bunch of kids whom I go to school with, an old African American Lady whom I knew, and a vault engineer. Of course I knew all of them. Some I was happier to see than others.

Over the clapping I heard the officer say, "Stanley you turned the lights on too bright. You blinded the poor kid." He and the technician laughed at this.

"Happy Birthday son," Dad said looking enthused, "Already ten years old. If only your mother were here…."

Someone interrupted. A man whom had walked through the other door was the one. It was the Overseer, Amata's father. This man was someone I wasn't too fond of but I didn't hate him though.

"Happy Birthday young man," He said interrupting my dad, "I don't have to tell you how special this day is do I?"

"No sir," I replied mannerly.

"Done here in the vault at the age of ten," He said ominously, "you are ready to take on your first official vault responsibility. Here you go kid, your very own Pipboy 3000. You'll be getting your first work assignment tomorrow. Heh, heh."

I knew all about a Pipboy. They were handy gizmos vault dweller wore all the time. I took it and put it on my right arm. After all I was left handed. The overseer sat in front of the old lady and then my dad turned to me.

"Sorry about that son," Dad said sounding a bit annoyed, "go on and enjoy your party." Before I could say anything else Amata came out of nowhere enthused.

"Happy Birthday Nate!" She said excitedly, "Did we surprise you?"

"Surprised me?" I said humorously, "I thought I was just being abducted by aliens."

Amata and some of the other kids laughed. "Your funny," Amata said truthfully, "Your dad thought you were onto us but I told him if I help him with the decorations we'd get it done before you figured us out. No offense but you're so easy to full."

"Haha," I said contently but sarcastically, "Nice one Amata. Now wait until your birthday."

She grinned. "Oh I'm prepared." She said.

"We'll see," I commented back.

"Guess what I got you," Amata asked enthused but quizzical.

Just to mess with her I thought about saying a date with Christine Kendall but she was standing right next to us so that was out. "I'm clueless," I said truthfully.

"Who's your favorite Barbarian?" Amata said playfully.

"Grognak," I said just as playful. Grognak was a character in a comic book series I loved reading those comics but I hardly got to because the Vault didn't have many issues.

"Well," She said contently, "Here you go. Grognak the Barbarian Issue 1. Found it in my dad's old junk pile. Mint condition and everything." She gave me a comic book with a picture of a barbarian wielding an axe.

"Wow!" I said happily, "Thanks Amata!"

"You're welcome," Amata said happily, "I'm not the only person here so get mingling with your guests." With that she walked to a different part of the room.

"Happy Birthday Nathan," the girl named Christine said, "having fun?"

"Yeah thanks Christine," I replied kindly, "You?"

"Yep," Christine replied, "Here I got you a baseball bat for a present. I know you are in the vault's little leagues."

"Cool thanks Christine," I said enthused and taking it.

"You're welcome Nathan," She said happily and she went to talk to another girl named Susie Mack who was her cousin.

I talked to the officer who sat at a bar near the window. He was looking out it looking deep in thought. I walked up to him and he turned around. It was Officer Herman Gomez, a friend of my father and I.

"How you doin' kiddo?" Herman said, "Having a good time?"

"Yeah," I said happily, "what's wrong Officer Gomez?"

He looked at me and smiled. "Nothing kiddo," Herman replied contently, "Just thinking about some stuff that's all. Oh I got you a present! Here's a switchblade for you."

"A switchblade?" I asked incredulously, "No way! This is awesome Officer Gomez!" A switchblade was rare around in the vault. They were cool but expensive.

"Ha ha, no problem," Officer Gomez said happily, "just don't get in any trouble or fights with it okay?" He handed it to me which I put it in my pocket.

"Okay!" I said happily. I was about to walk over to my dad when Susie stopped me.

"Happy birthday Nathan!" She said smiling, "I got you a baseball and Mitt. Me and Christine were working together trying to buy you some of this stuff."

"Cool," I said thankful, "Thanks Susie."

"No problem Nathan," Susie said briskly and went and joined Christine at a table.

A kind hearted African American boy was watching me looking ashamed. It was Paul Hannon. He hung out with a kid who acted like a bully which was a primary result of his mom being a drunk. I walked up to him and asked, "Hey Paul. Enjoying the party?"

"Yeah!" Paul said looking content, "Hey thanks for inviting me and all Nathan."

"No problem," I said smiling realizing that it was Amata and Dad who invited everyone.

"Look I know Butch and I give you a hard time and all," He said rubbing the back of his head, "But you don't take that stuff seriously do you? I mean we don't mean anything by it...well I don't."

"It's okay man," I said smiling, "Don't feel bad about it." Paul looked at me perplexed and smiled back.

"Hey Paul!" A boy said scornfully, "What you making friends with that loser?" At that point I wanted to punch the kid in the face. It was Butch DeLoria, the bully of the Vault.

"Yeah Paul," a boy whom sat in front of butch said, "Get over here. We're your real friends." That was Wally Mack, brother of Susie Mack.

"Uh okay," Paul said gulping slightly. He walked over and sat down with his 'friends.' Another boy was Freddie Gomez whom sat with them. He was always sad about something it seemed like, and he was the son of Herman Gomez.

I walked towards the technician, the man my dad sat by at the counter. It was Stanley Armstrong, the grandfather of Christine Kendal, Susie Mack, and Wally Mack.

"Hey Stanley," I said kindly.

"Hey buddy," Stanley replied, "How do you like that Pipboy?"

"I love it," I said truthfully, "Hey wait a second! Did you program it?"

"Yes I did and I'm glad you like it." Stanley said smiling, "It's a bit basic but it's the most reliable. I prefer this model over the newer one. The Pipboy model 3000A is reliable and has a lot of options the new 3000B model doesn't. It's handier too."

"This is real cool," I said looking at my Pipboy, "But will it ever come off?"

"Amazingly not without a skill technician," Stanley said contently, "You would need to make all kinds of adjustments just to loosen it up for it to willingly come off. The thing is, this thing never breaks and is water proof."

"It never breaks?" I asked curiously, "how come?"

"Some kind of armor plating and what not," Stanley said, "This thing can take a hit from a bomb and not even have a small scratch. In fact I know it can take a hit from one."

"Whoa," I said happily.

"Oh almost forgot kiddo," Stanley said, "Happy Birthday." He gave me a red baseball cap that was from pre-war times.

"Thanks Stanley!" I said content. I heard the old lady calling me. "Nathan!" She called, "come over here please dear." I did as asked. "Are you having a good time young man?" There was an old gentle kindness in here voice.

"Yes ma'am," I answered truthfully.

"Ten years old already," She said happily, "My how time flies. I remember when you were just a little youngin'." She handed me a delicious looking pastry. "Here I made a few Sweet rolls just for you."

"Oh Mrs. Palmer you didn't have to get me anything." I said kindly. I didn't want her doing more than she could with her being extremely old and retired from work.

"Oh fiddlesticks," She said smiling, "What ten year old doesn't want a present for their birthday? I wanted to do this anyways."

"Thank you," I said thankful that even old ladies may care about someone, "I appreciate this."

"Oh you're welcome kiddo," Mrs. Palmer said handing me a basket full of Sweet rolls which looked delicious, "And don't go sharing any of these. They are made especially for you and you alone."

"Yes ma'am," I said taking the basket. I gave my basket to Dad who had put them in front of him on the counter.

"Did you thank her?" He asked me quietly.

"Yes sir," I said truthfully. He nodded in response and was about to say something when Andy the Type II Mister Handy got everyone's attention.

"Attention everyone!" He announced, "It's time to cut the cake." Then he powered up his skill saw that was on the end of one of his three long mechanical arms.

"Andy no!" Amata yelled over the winding of the saw but it was too late. The saw went straight through rapidly launching pieces of cake everywhere.

I couldn't help but feel shocked by the event but I wasn't mad or sad. No, I was amazed at this because I got to see Andy launch cake all over the place like one of those baseball pitching machines.

"Oh! I'm terribly sorry sir," Andy said retracting his arm.

"Whoa don't worry about it," I said looking at his skill saw then at the cake, "That was cool anyway you look at it."

There was a console making a beeping sound. "I'll get it," Dad said getting up. When dad was out of earshot, Butch had decided trying to bully me.

"I'm hungry and that stupid robot destroyed the cake," Butch said tyrantly, "Give me one of those sweet rolls you got from Old Lady Palmer."

"Sorry Butch," I said shortly, "She told me not to."

"She told me not to," He mimicked annoyingly, "I don't care, give me one." Okay this was one of those times this kid would get decked in the face. I hated him when he was like this, which was always.

"Nah I'm good," I said getting ready to walk away.

"What did you say?" Butch demanded threateningly, "I'm going to beat you up."

"Try it," I said ill-tempered, "Then you get kicked out by Officer Gomez.

Butch seeming to think things over sat there annoyed. "Fine but we'll settle this when the grownups aren't around," He said annoyed.

Amata seeing what happened called me over to her. "What was that all about?" She asked concerned.

"Butch tried to steal a Sweet roll Mrs. Palmer made for me," I said annoyed, "He was trying to fight me and it won't work."

"Don't get beat up!" Amata said, "or I'm going to punch him!"

" I know how to handle myself thanks to Jonas and Dad," I replied.

"Hey kiddo," Dad said walking up to us, "Jonas wants to see you on the reactor level. I don't think anyone will mind if you slip out for a second or two. Amata?"

Amata looked at dad blankly then said, "oh no, go on Nate!"

"Well okay," I said not wanting to disappoint any one.

I exited the room and I was met by a woman that was one of Stanley's daughters, Beatrice Armstrong. "Why hello," She said like she was talking to a baby, "Ten years old! Happy Birthday cutie. I bet you're happy."

"Yes ma'am," I said truthfully.

"I see," Beatrice said, "I made you a gift. It's a poem I wrote just for you."

She handed me a finely printed poem. "Now I have to go kiddo," Beatrice said happily, "See you later."

"Bye," I said and she walked away around the corner. The overseer had walked pass us up some stairs. As I walked pass the stairs I heard him say something.

"I don't like him," He muttered to someone else. There was a response that I couldn't make out.

"Give them a few more minutes Officer Kendall," The overseer said, "Then tell them to get back to work."

"Yes sir," I heard. I prayed to god the Overseer wasn't talking about me. He might've been talking about Butch. Butch and his mother do have a reputation after all.

I found my way down in the reactor room where a tall African American man was in a vault issued white lab coat and had glasses on. It was Jonas Palmer, Mine and my father's friend and grandson of the old lady Lucy Palmer.

"What are you down here young man?" Jonas said business-like, "I thought kids weren't allowed on the reactor level." He had his arms folded but I could sense he was fooling around.

"Hey!" I said, "I'm not a kid! I'm ten years old!" I gave a false angry expression.

Jonas started laughing. "Hey I know," Jonas said smiling, "Hey now that you're ten you don't have to take crap like that from adults. Happy Birthday bud."

"Thanks Jonas," I said grinning, "So what's up?"

"The commons level," Jonas said then laughed a little, "No you're dad and I spent time making you a surprise."

"What kind of surprise?" I asked curiously.

"You're dad's coming," Jonas said grinning, "He'll show you."

I turned around to see my dad coming down the stairs. "Hey kiddo," he said, "You ready for your surprise?"

"Uh sure dad," I said really wanting to know what it is.

He walked over to Jonas' locker and opened it. He pulled out two objects, one long and one that looked like a small cylinder-like container.

He held them out for me. The long object was a gun, it had a brown shoulder butt and the rest was black metal from the trigger to the tip of the barrel. It was a BB gun. The other object was a container for BB pellets.

My mouth dropped. I jumped at dad hugging him. "Thank you Dad!" I exclaimed gratefully.

"Ha ha," Dad said pleased, "No problem son." I let him go and ran at Jonas. He helped too.

I hugged Jonas too. "Thanks Jonas." I said happily.

"No problem kiddo," Jonas said grinning.

Then something came to my mind. "Wait a second," I said, "where can we practice? We can't shoot down here."

"We certainly can't," Dad said, "That's why Jonas spent all this time setting up a shooting range for you."

I turned back to Jonas with an expression. Jonas nodded. "Cool," I said simply. But there was one thing that ran across my mind, where did they get a BB gun? Those things were hard to come by. "Dad? How did you get one of these?"

"I found it in the old part of the vault and started fixing it up with Jonas helping me," Dad said smiling, "It was hard to find a spring small enough to fit in the chamber. It's a good thing Stanley found that switchblade Butch misplaced ha ha."

"Cool," I said eagerly, "Can we go practice now?" Dad handed me the BB gun and I marveled at its smooth structure and finely cut wood. I filled it with BB's from the BB canister as Jonas opened a storage room door. I walked in with them and could see the shooting range.

There were file cabinets acting as walls so the BB's wouldn't ricochet off of three targets onto something else and two filing cabinets laying parallel to the floor acting as something for 'cover.'

"Go on," Dad said encouragingly. He and Jonas stood on either side of me as I stood at the shooting spot. "Remember," Dad said instructing me, "Aim at the targets then shoot."

I rested the butt of the gun to my left shoulder and cocked the BB gun. I made sure I was aiming correctly by closing my right eye and looking down at the pointer. I pulled the trigger and there was a small kick to the gun but and there was a slight "Tink" sound like rock pebbles hitting metal and the target swung back and came back into place.

"Excellent," Dad said pleased, "Two more."

I repeated the same thing with the other one's and shot them easily. "Dang," Jonas said amazed at my accuracy, "Remind me not to make you mad at me. Good shooting."

"Yeah," Dad said pleased, "But remember son, you have to take care of you belongings so repairing it and making sure it works right is an essential okay?"

"Yes sir," I said obediently.

We heard some kind of shuffling and sounds that sounded like ticking. We turned around to see a huge bug on the other side of the filing cabinets. "Careful," Dad said cautiously, "Radroach. They're dangerous down here in swarms. See if you can kill it."

The Radroach was large with paper like wings, long antennae, large black bug like eyes, and six hairy legs. I nodded eager to try my new present on a live target. Radroaches were everywhere most of the time. But the Overseer tries to control their population by keeping the sun lights off. I aimed at the Radroach but studied it intently first. The body had a protective exoskeleton but the head and neck was just flesh pretty much.

I aimed for the head. I pulled the trigger and missed it barely. I cocked the BB gun again and aimed at the head again shot. This time my aim was dead on. The Radroaches body scuttled a bit then died finally.

"That's one less Radroach to take care of," Dad said pleased with my performance, "Hey Jonas, get a picture of me and the big game hunter over here."

"Alright Doc," Jonas said grinning at me and pulling out a camera. That picture was one of my favorite ones I ever took with someone.

….

Six years later I was sixteen and was sitting in my dad's office after a medical examination, which was customary before the big G.O.A.T exam. I really didn't want to do the exam, because I had my suspicions that it was rigged somehow. There was even a biased question at the very end which I heard from the students who took it before my class. Plus my dad agreed with me.

"As far as I can see you are a perfectly healthy sixteen year old boy," Dad said to me, "So yes you have to take the G.O.A.T Exam."

"Do I have to dad?" I asked disappointed, "I thought you said the thing was rigged."

"I know I know," Dad said sighing, "But it's not my call. The Overseer reviews the results personally after Edwin decides what your career will be growing up. Now get moving, I've got other patients who need my attention and good luck."

"Alright Dad," I said getting up off the examination bed, "I'll see you later."

"Goodbye son," Dad said. I walked outside the office as Jonas was talking to Stanley. I walked towards the classroom to see Butch, Wally, and Paul harassing Amata. I walked up to them.

"What's going on here?" I demanded.

"None of you fucking business kid," Butch said annoyed, "beat it." He was leaning against the wall with arms folded, like the stereotypical badass.

I already knew what they were doing so I replied with something of my own. "Wow Butch," I said smirking, "You three are really brave messing with the Overseer's daughter like that. He could have you all locked away and thrown in jail for the rest of your miserable lives. You sure you want to mess with her? If you do, you've got balls."

Butch looked slightly uneasy. "Damn," He said realizing I was right on point, "Yeah whatever….you're probably right. Let's go Tunnel Snakes." With that Paul and Wally followed Butch into the classroom.

Amata turned to me thankful. "Thanks for getting rid of those three for me." She said annoyed, "Assholes always messing with me. I don't know why they won't leave me alone. I guess it's because I'm the overseer's daughter or something, I don't know. Come on, let's get in and take this stupid exam."

"Yeah sure," I said slightly frightened of her. Amata was the devil when she was angry. I followed behind her into the classroom and Mr. Edwin Brotch met me at the door but greeted Amata as she walked pass.

"Good morning Nate," He said, "Ready for the G.O.A.T?"

"Yeah," I said reluctantly but quietly, "But my dad said this thing was rigged."

Mr. Brotch stole a glance at the other kids, then pulled me out the classroom. "Listen," Mr. Brotch said quietly, "I know you've got talent for a lot of things. Since you're father and I are friends and all I can let you bypass the test and let you pick out your career. I can make the test results add up to that."

"What about Amata?" I asked, "If she finds out she will pretty much hate me." She was actually the only friend I had down in the vault that was my age.

"Don't worry," Mr. Brotch said quietly, "She'll do great and you won't have to worry about her. She is the Overseer's daughter after all." The way he said this it was like Mr. Brotch was insinuating something. I bet it had something to do with her father, oh the fruits of being the overseer's daughter, I can see her now as the replacement for him.

"Okay," I said thankful Mr. Brotch would be so kind to do this for me.

"Alright," Mr. Brotch said, "I'm going to give you a spare test. Just sit down and act like you're taking it. When everyone leaves I'll fill it out for you."

"Yes sir," I said doing as ordered. I was forced to sit in front of Christine Kendall. Mr. Brotch read through the questions and expected everyone to mark them down. I just read the answers for the heck of it. I looked in front of me to see Freddie Gomez struggling clutching his hair. The last question was totally biased. It was:

Who is indisputably the most important person in Vault 101: He who shelters us from the harshness of the atomic wasteland and to whom we owe everything we have, including our lives?

Well that should be a no brainer even if you don't look at the four answers that would all be marked the same answer. The Overseer. "That's fucked up," I commented reading it over again.

"Nathan, are you disregarding the Overseer?" Christine asked from behind me. Sheesh, that girl was always trying to get me in trouble. I fixed her though with a clever comment.

"Uh no," I said quickly, "Just thinking about how if your grandma asks you to shoot someone and you want a Minigun so you don't miss."

She left it at that but I heard a little bit of laughter. "Alright pencils down and turn in your papers to me," Mr. Brotch said walking over to the projector and turning it off. He then walked to his desk.

I sat and listened to everyone's results except Freddie Gomez. Amata was suited for a supervisory career. Christine was going to work in the Maintenance department with her grandfather Stanley which she was infuriated over. Susie was going to have a teaching career. Paul to his relief would work as an engineer which I was glad for him. Wally didn't even stay to listen to his results; he just said he knew what he'll be. With that Mr. Brotch was amazed at his paper. Wally apparently cheated on the test because Mr. Brotch said, "Well I'll be damned, I wish I had thought of that when I was sixteen. He's going to be a Security Officer."

I was curious about how he did it but I wasn't going to go asking. Susie and Freddie were talking about meeting in the cafeteria for something. I knew they both had crushes on each other but if Freddie didn't hurry up he was going to blow the chance of them being together. He whispered to me, "Hey I was going to go with the first answer for question ten, is this a trick question?"

"No just mark one," I said almost laughing. Freddie had problems with depression and low self esteem. He wanted to be apart of the Tunnel Snakes just to belong somewhere but I couldn't see him doing it.

"Okay," Freddie said mumbling to himself, "Now should I obey grandma or not for question five?"

Finally it was Butches turn. I listened intently on this one. Mr. Brotch did not like Butch at all because of his delinquent ways.

"Oh Butch," Mr. Brotch said enjoying himself, "Let me savor the moment. I've been waiting a very long time for this one."

"Aw come on teach," Butch said slightly nervously, "Don't be like that."

"Well let's see," Mr. Brotch said looking over Butches exam. He stared at it for a long time. "Well I'll be damned," He finally said sounding amazed, "I didn't think you had it in you Butch."

"What Teach?" He said obviously seeing this as something good.

"You're going to be…" Mr. Brotch said dramatically then paused, "A hairdresser! Congratulations Butch." Okay I couldn't help but to almost die of laughter. I had to cover my mouth with the palm of my hand to quit.

"A hairdresser!" Butch yelled, "No it's a Barber! Got that Teach!" With that he stormed out. Mr. Brotch chuckled a bit then turned to Freddie in front of me.

"You okay Freddie?" He asked slightly concerned. Freddie was sweating and still stuck on number five.

"Yeah," Freddie said gulping nervously, "Just dandy." I looked at Mr. Brotch whom ushered me over to him.

"That could take a while," Mr. Brotch whispered about Freddie, "So what are your interests?"

I thought about that for a second. "Well," I whispered back, "I'm into learning new stuff and Medical things, but I also like repairing my belongings and target practice."

Mr. Brotch looked at the paper a bit of thought then wrote down answers. "I've got one for you," He finally said, "Vault Scientist. That sound up your alley?"

I thought about it for a second. "Yeah," I said content with the results.

….

My future was bright apparently, thanks to Mr. Brotch which I was eternally thankful for having as a teacher. I became a scientist whom the Overseer tasked me with two jobs: aiding my father and helping Stanley in his department. I couldn't ask for a better life. If only back then I had realized what my dad's intentions were….

Chapter 1 complete….