Before a Last Goodbye

Now, where to begin.

James' heart beat quickened at just the mere look of the holotape in his hand. The years of work and grief as the vault's doctor edged into each wrinkle of his skin.

He wiped his tired eyes and tried to concentrate, but he soon found that his voice was but a whisper, like he could not bring himself to say the final words he knew were the last he would ever say to his son.

His son.

James remembered the first time his eyes met the child wrapped in his arms, so small and innocent. His son, though said to look more like himself than his wife, reminded him of her, Catherine, before she was taken from his world and with it the hope he had for his family's future.

Oh, what a future it would have been. The waters of life would have flown through the wasteland. Catherine's dream would have come true and would have been free, to any and all. He didn't expect the evil and suffering of the wasteland to end over night, but he had expected it to get better overtime, at least until his child came of age where he would wander the world on his own and would no longer need his mother or father.

But, after all that happened with his wife's death and the project's demise, James came to the conclusion that perhaps the vault was the best for his child. At least his son would be safe, away from the cruel land that laid above them. In the vault he could live happily, not have to worry about raiders or slavers or god forbid the other many dangers out there. He never wanted his child to face that. There were few safe havens in the wasteland and most of those were corrupt.

In the back of his mind, James told himself that he did his best. His son was alive, healthy. He had a bright future in the vault and, as much as he hated to admit it, he didn't need his father any longer.

In some ways it was a good thing. He could return to his work, Project Purity. The guilt he carried for over nineteen years could finally be put to rest and, perhaps, he could correct where he had failed. He owed Catherine that much.

"Doc? Are you ready?" Jonas asked.

"Huh? Yes, I'm ready," James sighed.

With a quick side-ward glance, he gave a short nod. His finger lingered on the holotape's switch and he closed his eyes.

I'm sorry, my son. I hope you can forgive me, was his final thought before the switch was pressed and the holotape started to record.