This story began as sort of a question, "I wonder what life was like in the vault for 101 before she left?"
I started writing and the story sort of took on a life of its own. It's not finished yet but I know how I want it to end.

I've got more chapters in the works and am nearing the finish. I wanted to post the first two just to get them out there. I will write and post more as time allows.

Thanks for reading.

WN: (04-12) just editing for format a little. The story itself hasn't changed. It's been so long since I've worked on this I needed to read through it to get the ending just right.

WN: (08-13) yeah, its been that long. Just tiding up before i finish this thing.

Chapter One: Getting to Know You.

Thwap. Thwapthwap, Jolene pulled the trigger. Thwap. Ever since her father gave her the BB gun for her birthday she found solace coming down here to shoot. Over the years the three old targets got boring so she rigged up some moving ones. Now they also lacked challenge. What she really wanted was to go on a Radroach Patrol but her father was against the Overseer finding out about her weapon.

"Besides," he said, "your G.O.A.T. test is in a few days. You'll be so busy with your new job that you'll forget all about this old BB gun."

Yeah great, just what she was looking forward to, the life of a Fry Cook or a Laundry Cannon Operator. She didn't know why she enjoyed shooting but she did and she couldn't imagine any job in the vault that would keep her mind from it. Maybe her father's work would but he kept the most interesting parts to himself. She thought about her mom and wondered if she had known about dad's little 'experiments'. There was a noise behind her and she turned, "Oh. Hi Jonas."

"Hey yourself sharp shooter," he smiled.

It was a friendly smile but she could tell he was attracted to her even though he tried to keep it to himself. She didn't care. She knew she was pretty by the way other men looked at her. The pickings weren't exactly ripe 'round here but she figured because Jonas was friends with her father he wouldn't pursue her. She really didn't think she wanted to wed Jonas but she wouldn't mind screwing him. He wasn't a bad looking guy. She giggled to herself, what a devilish thought. She shouldn't be thinking those things. After a few more shots she said goodbye and watched him as she walked away. No, not bad at all.

~~oOo~~

In her room a few days later, she looked through some old magazines from the time before everyone was locked up in vaults. The idea of living in the out of doors with all the wide open space fascinated her. The fashion, the vehicles, the food! She couldn't imagine the disposability of it all. In the vault they re-used everything they could. No wonder their whole society came crashing down but it still looked so lavish, like a child's fantasy. There was a knock and Amata entered before Jolene could say anything. Throwing herself next to Jolene on the bed she sighed, "Augh! I can't stand that Butch and his stupid gang."

"Bothering you again huh?" She flipped the tired page of Rolling Stones. "You know he only does it 'cause he likes you."

"Roach shit!" She threw a magazine at Jolene's head. "Don't say that."

Jolene ignored her friend and opened the Feed and Seed catalog thrown at her."You know, they used to use horse and cow manure for fertilizer before the bombs. Mrs. Horowitz said she's going to try the same with the radroach shit."

"Gross! And stop changing the subject. Butch does not like me."

Jolene put down her magazine and smirked at Amata, "does to."

"How do you know?"

"I've seen him watching you. He gets all quiet and his eyes eat you up."

"Oh, haven't you noticed? That's the way he looks at all the girls with big boobs." Amata giggled. "He looks at you the same way."

"No, his look is special, only for you." She picked up a Life magazines and started flipping again.

"Why do you spend so much time with those old things?"

Jolene shrugged.

Amata lay back on the bed squeezing a pillow under her head, "and there's all the time you spend in the library watching all those old vids. Weird."

"I like them, they're educational."

Amata just looked at her.

"It's our history, aren't you the least bit curious?"

"We get enough of that in class. Please."

"We get what your father wants us to get and I don't think he's had enough time to go through the libraries archives and censor it. Plus," her voice lowered, "Mr. Lawson has let me watch some of his private collection and he said he has others he can get his hands on."

"Mr. Lawson only wants to get his hands on you."

"Amata! He's just a nice old guy."

"That's not what Betty told me. She was in the stacks the other day when he came up behind her and tried to 'help' her reach some vid disk. She said he squeezed her butt!"

"Oh right! He probably just bumped into her, Betty is such a prude."

"That's what you think. You should hear what she did with Paul! Hey," Amata sat up, "let's go down to the Diner and see who's sitting around."

"Sure." Getting off the bed, Jolene stuffed some magazines under her arm.

"Oh, can't you leave them for a second?"

"Fine," she tossed them back on the bed as they left.