The Legend of the Sole Survivor

A "Fallout 4™" Fanfiction

"A Better Time"

Chapter 1

"In the year 1945, my great-great grandfather, serving in the army, wondered when he'd get to go home to his wife and the son he'd never seen. He got his wish when the US ended World War II by dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The World awaited Armageddon; instead, something miraculous happened. We began to use atomic energy not as a weapon, but as a nearly limitless source of power.

People enjoyed luxuries once thought the realm of science fiction. Domestic robots, fusion-powered cars, portable computers. But then, in the 21st century, people awoke from the American dream.

Years of consumption lead to shortages of every major resource. The entire world unraveled. Peace became a distant memory. It is now the year 2077. We stand on the brink of total war, and I am afraid. For myself, for my wife, for my infant son - because if my time in the army taught me one thing: it's that war, war never changes."

Nora is an average sized woman of twenty-four years leaning against the door way of the bathroom. With eyes full of love and care she looks at her husband slouched over the sink. Nate is a well-built twenty-five year old man. Nora watches her husband Nate nervously wash his face as he stares into the mirror.

"War never changes" Nate repeats to his reflection.

Grabbing a hand towel from the sink rack he turns from the sink and begins to dry off his face. Nora approaches her husband and embraces him. "You're going to do great at the Veterans Hall tonight".

Nate, who was caught off guard removes the towel from his face, wraps his arms around his wife and plants a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Thank you my love" Nate whispers in her ear as they stand there embracing in front of the mirror. A few moments pass before they release each other.

Nate turns back to the mirror, "I have gone to hell and back for this country. Yet standing in front of a crowed still seems like the most terrifying thing I could do." While Nate was out serving the great nation of the United Sates, Nora was in school studying for a law degree. She could not help but chuckle at the situation her husband was in.

With a smile Nora approaches her husband from behind and places her hand on his shoulder, "I can't believe I'm married to such a wimp." She turns Nate to face her, "You have gone over your speech at least a hundred times in the last hour. All you have to do is get on that stage say what you have to say and get off. You won't be up there for more than five minutes."

Nate looks at his wife with love. "You know, unless people start asking you questions, and before you know it you've been standing up there for thirty minutes. Just don't forget to put your pants on facing forwards.

With a large grin on his face he looks at Nora's Big Beautiful Brown eyes, "You always know exactly what to say don't you?"

Nate grabs Nora by the arm and pulls her closer to him and begins to explore her body with the other. Before Nate could get Nora's top off, they hear their baby Shawn begin to cry in the room next to them.

Nora Smiles and reluctantly pulls herself away from her husband. "Hey calm down, Now's not the time for that."

Nate shuts off the water to the sink as their domestic robot floats its way towards Shawn's room. "Aww sounds like someone has a Stinky!" Codsworth is a General Atomics Mr. Handy Robot that is comprised of a sphere for a body, three tactical like arms, three camera like eyes, and a rocket like thruster to keep it suspended in midair.

Codsworth stops at the restroom door and says "I shall attend to young Shawn!"

Nate and Nora both make their way to the living room where Nate grabs hold of his coffee and Nora takes hold of the Boston Bugle Newspaper. Nora looks up at Nate, "You know, I was nervous at first but Codsworth is really good with Shawn."

Nate looks at his wife from the couch and smirks, "I told you it was worth every penny. I only get the best for Boston's finest."

Nora with a smile joins him to watch the news. On the black and white screen the news anchor taps his paperwork on his desk, "On the Island of Mambajao the nights are cold, unseasonably so for Southeast Asia. But For the Fifth Infantry, that's as comfortable as an autumn jamboree, All the Easier for our mechanized hellcats to drive the screaming Commie meamies right into the Bohol Sea."

The doorbell rings and Nora looks at her husband. "Can you get that? It's probably that salesman, he comes for you every day." Nate shifts in his seat and says, "I have a better idea, why don't I go prepare some bottles for Shawn and you handle him."

Nora gets up and pulls her husband from the coach by the arm, "Oh no, not again. It's time for you to grow a set and go talk to him."

Nate, playfully disappointed, walks over to the door and pulls it open. "Good morning! Vault-Tec Calling!" the salesman says as he tips his hat stepping closer to Nate.

"Morning, can I help you with something?" Nate says clearly unimpressed.

The sales man swallows and continues, "You can't begin to know how happy I am to finally speak with you! I've been trying for days. It's a matter of up most urgency I assure you!"

Nate with a relaxed demeanor responds, "What's so important?"

The Vault-Tec Representative looking almost surprised and responds in a confidant tone, "Why nothing less than your entire future! If you haven't noticed sir, this county has gone to heck in a handbasket! If you'll excuse my language. The Big KABOOM is. . . It's inevitable I'm afraid . . . and coming sooner than you may think! If you catch my meaning."

Nate lets out a huff and begins to close the door, and the Representative stops the door with his foot. Both surprised and annoyed, Nate swings the door wide open ready to start yelling at the representative but is cut off just as quickly.

"Now I know you're a busy fellow so I won't take up much of your time." The representative lowers his head. "Time being a, hmm. . . Precious commodity." He picks his head up and looks Nate in the eyes and continues, "I'm here today to tell you because of your family's service to our country." The representative is boasting at this point. "You have been preselected for entrance into the local Vault." With a 'Ta-da' presence the representative continues, "Vault One Eleven!"

Intrigued by these words Nate asks, "So let me get this straight, my family and I get a free ride into the vault program?"

The representative is clearly excited, "Of course! Minus your robot naturally. In fact you're already cleared for entrance! It's just a matter of verifying some information." The representative hands Nate a clipboard and pen.

"Don't want there to be any hold ups in the unforeseen event of . . . heh heh . . . total atomic annihilation. Won't take but a moment."

Nate grins, "Well now I can't wait for the world to end!"

The rep. with wide eyes says, "Ha-ha! That's the spirit!" Nate signs his name at the bottom of the form and hands it back to the representative.

"Wonderful! That's everything, I'm just going to walk this over to the vault! Congratulations on be prepared for the future!"

Nate closes the door, "Well that was something special."

Nora looks up and smiles, "Hey its peace of mind. That's worth a little paper work right?"

Nate smiles and kisses his wife, "For you and Shawn no price is to high!"

Nora laughs, "Good answer.

Nate smiles, "I have my moments!"

Codsworth hovers his way down the hall and turns to address Nora. "Mrs. Nora young Shawn has been changed but he absolutely refuses to calm down. Perhaps you could use some of that paternal affection you humans seem to be so good at." Nate kisses his wife. "You heard him my love, let's go check on our son."

Nate walks over to Shawn's crib and picks him up. He begins to rock his son back and forth in an attempt to calm him down. Nora walks up behind Nate and puts her hand on her son's forehead to help comfort him.

After a short wile of caring for their son, Shawn finally quiets down. Shawn looks up at his dad and smiles before closing his eyes and falling asleep. "There . . . much better."

Nora looks at her husband still cradling their son, "Hey, I was thinking that we could go down to the park before we head out to the Veterans Hall. Should help ease your mind."

Nate looks at his wife and smiles, "I would love that. Maybe we could . . ." Before Nate finishes his sentence Codsworth hovers into the room. Nora looks at Codsworth confused," what's wrong Codsworth?" In a more worried tone "Sir, Mum, you should follow me to the living room there is something you and Nate need to see" Nora, along with Nate and Shawn in hand, troublingly followed Codsworth to the living room.

The news anchor has taken on a much more shallow tone. "Yes . . . we have confirmed reports, that's confirmed reports of nuclear detonations in New York and Pennsylvania. . . Oh my god. . ." The station cut out and the words "No signal" flash on the screen.

Nate looks at his wife with a concerned look just as sirens start to go off all over Boston. Nora looks at her husband with more than a terrified expression. "Oh my god, WE NEED TO GET TO THE VAULT! NOW!" Nate grabs Nora's hand, holds Shawn in his free arm and bursts out of the front door.

What they see as soon as they leave their house is pure pandemonium. Echoing across the neighborhood are sirens and a message that says, "RESIDENTS OF SANCTUARY HILLS, IF YOU ARE REGISTERD, EVACUATE TO VAULT ONE ELEVEN IMMEDIATELY!"

Nate, with Shawn in one hand and virtually dragging Nora in the other, he makes his way up the hill that leads to the Vault elevator. As Nate approaches the top of the hill he can hear screaming. A man's voice screams, "Why won't you let us in?" Followed by a woman's voice, "Who cares if we aren't on the list? We're going to die out here!"

Nate steps through the crowd and hears a familiar voice, "What do you mean I'm not on the list? I AM VAULT TECH!"

The soldier responds in an annoyed tone, "I'm sorry sir, but you aren't on the list. I can't let you in!"

The Vault Tech representative stood his ground and re-affirmed himself. "OH IM GOING IN! YOU CAN'T STOP ME!"

A pretty stupid move since there are two solders standing behind the gate that are adorned in Military issue T-60 Power Armor, both armed with mini guns. One of them begins to spool up is mini gun and yells in a muffled walkie-talkie voice. "SIR, PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE GATE!"

The Vault Tech representative instantly retreated with arms in the air. "Whoa! Whoa! Ok you have maid your point!" The Representative turns and runs down the hill yelling, "IM REPORTING THIIIIIISSS!"

Nate approaches the guard and again the same muffled voice blasts from behind the guard, "IF YOU ARE IN THE PROGRAM PLEASE STEP FORWARD, OTHERWISE CLEAR THE AREA!"

The guard addresses Nate with the same attitude he gave the representative, "Are you in the program?"

Nate almost lost his footing but responded, "Yes, we are on the list we need get in!"

The guard studies him and continues, "One Infant. . . Adult mail. . . Adult female. . . Go ahead in." Nate rushes past the guard and Nora in a rushed tone says, "Thank you!"

They follow a man that is wearing a blue jumpsuit laced with golden lining. "What is going to happen to everyone behind the gate?" Nora exclaims.

The man in Blue responded, "We're doing everything we can now come on! Get on the platform in the center!" Nate and family obeyed and stood on a large platform that is in the shape of a gear. The man in blue ran over to what looked like a guard station and yelled, "We need to send them down, NOW!"

A very large grinding noise erupted from beneath Nate and Nora, and the platform began to lower itself. Nate begins to cradle his wife and Nora says to him, "I love you" Nate kisses his wife's forehead and responds, "I love you too, both of you!"

In the distance there is an eruption that flooded the afternoon sky with blinding light. The earth began to shake and crumble around them. Heat washed over the land, cleansing it of all known life. The residence of Sanctuary Hills all caught a glimpse of the magnificent and terrifying mushroom cloud that has risen high enough to blot out the sun. Just as the elevator shut above them they hear the loudest "Bang" any of them have ever had the displeasure of hearing. The elevator shaft echoed with a "CLUNG" as the doors sealed above them, waking Shawn up from his deep sleep.

"Oh my god everything is gone isn't it?" One of the residence said as he paces across the elevator. The elevator lowered itself with the sound of metal grinding on metal. Nate and Nora are both siting in the middle of the elevator trying to keep their son from crying.

The residence of sanctuary hills are all visibly shaken. After an unusually long ride, the elevator finally came to a stop. Taking a moment to get on their feet, the residence were presented with a cave entry way that has scaffolding that leads up to a large concrete wall with an opening that resembles the shape of a Gear. "Hello! Welcome to your new home! A better future underground!"

"Everybody please, step off the elevator and head up the stairs in an orderly fashion." At the bottom of the scaffolding there is a man flanked by two security guards. The man is adorned with bright blue jumpsuit lined with gilded stripes along the front zipper and above the brown belt, on the back of the suit is the number "111" written in gilded lacing. The guards wear the same jumpsuit except they have on tan ballistic vests and bright blue security helmets.

Nate let go a sigh of relief. "We made it." Nora simply follows her husband off the elevator and up the stairs into a large screening area. As they pass the door a series of buzzes go off. The residents file in one after the other and stop to receive their very own jump suits.

The man standing at the end of the screening room is dressed in a white trench lab coat. Nate and family approach the scientist. "Please head through these doors and dress yourselves into your new attire" The man directed them towards a locker room that all the other new vault residence were herded into.

Nate helps his wife slip into the blue jumpsuit. He stopped to take in the stunning view of his wife as she stood in front of him in the skin tight jumpsuit. "You are so beautiful, how did I ever get so lucky to be with someone like you?"

Nora responded with a kiss, but Nate could feel tears streaming down her face. "This is our new home now." Nate has his arms wrapped around Nora as she cradles their son. "Hey, at least you don't have to worry about that speech of yours." Nate could only put on a faint smile as he could tell she is just trying to cope with everything.

The Scientist walked into the locker room. "Ah, it looks like we are all ready. If everyone could please follow me down to the detox chamber. We can start on getting everyone situated into your new home." The residents followed the scientist out into the hall. "Oh you're going to love it here! This is one of our most advanced facilities. Not that the others aren't great mind you."

Nora walking just a few paces behind the Scientist," So how long are we going to be down here?" The scientist stopped and looked at the family he was escorting. "Well, we will be going over all that in orientation. There are just a few medical items that we need to get through first." The Scientist turned to continue walking down the hall. They enter a room that is lined with large white pods.

The scientist stops at the end of the chamber to address the residents, "Everyone please step into the decontamination pods." Shawn began to cry and Nora immediately started rocking him back and forth.

Nate came up to his son. "Hey there buddy. Listen to daddy ok." feeling his dads presence he Shawn became calm once again. "I'll be right here with you. Daddy is just going over there to get all cleaned up, ok?" Nate leans in and kisses Shawn's forehead. "Besides, your mommy will take good care of you."

"Let's move along everyone. We have a lot of items to take care of once the procedure is complete." All the residents prop themselves into their pods as the sound of compressed air echoes throughout the room. Nate kisses his wife and pulls his hand away from Shawn's head. Nora turns and climbs into her pod as Nate finishes adjusting himself in the seat. The pod door came down and over sealing itself shut.

Nate peers out his pod's window and into Nora's window. He let out a semi relaxed sigh. "It's time for a whole new life."

The sound of pressurizing air began to echo in the pod. A woman's voice came over the intercom above Nates head.

"Resident secure. . . Occupant vitals: Normal. Procedure complete in . . ."

Nate sits back and begins to relax his muscles.

"Five. . . .Four . . ."

The air around him begins to freeze.

"Threeee. . . . . . Twwoooo. . . . . . . oooonnnneeeeee. . ."