Fallout: Manhattan

Prologue

War, war never changes.

For the past two centuries, the world has been reduced to a violent and barbaric land of carnage and bloodshed, all thanks to the destructive nature of mankind...and its inhabitants. Those who survived the great apocalypse that caused this great atrocity retreated into vast underground shelters...known as Vaults. Upon emerging, many of these vault dwellers settled into the wasteland, doing so to form new societies that can rebuild civilization. Many of the great cities that had existed in the old world were ravaged and destroyed when the bombs fell, but soon some of the cities were rebuilt and reorganized. Many were destroyed beyond repair. In the Liberty Wasteland, the great and historic city of New York was deemed worthy of recolonization. But conflict currently looms over the horizon, over control of the great city and its citizens. You are a vault dweller, who is safe in the warm and protective Vault 122. But soon a simple conversation with your uncle and a ferocious gang fight will send you into the hell of the wasteland.

Part I:

Banishment

Chapter 1

If anyone is reading this, be aware of the things you may find. But despite the possibilities, this is my story. I was born in Vault 122 on October 23, 2266. I grew up being raised by my Uncle Rem, who took me in after my parents both died in a Vault Reactor accident. I was two years old when they died. Uncle Rem was the head of Vault security, despite my Uncle’s position of authority though; I preferred to live on the wild side. I was not the most well behaved kid in the Vault. I loved to vandalized property, I sprayed graffiti, and I was the boss of a gang that did these things. We were called “Vault Hoodlums” for what we did, and the name stuck. Our gang grew to the point that we were feared greatly in the lower levels of the vault. We also wore specially made leather jackets to distinguish ourselves from the other vault residents. They had the vault number “122”stitched on the back of them. And so we were the best, but soon others caught on to our idea, and another gang was formed. The leader of this new gang was a guy named Darrel Eshwick (a major [censored]). Eshwick’s gang rivaled ours; we began to have territorial issues that had resulted to violence between our gangs. We settled on having a rumble later on October 23 on the year 2283, the day that my life would change forever.
The halls of the Vault were crowded after school had let out. My friend and fellow hoodlum John and I were walking to my Uncle’s quarters talking about the rumble that would happen later that night.
John and I have known each other since we were very young. We both lost our parents to the same accident. We met when we were about eight years old, he has been there with me since the gang had been started.
“It will be a fair fight.” John said, “No weapons, no excuses.”
“Good thinking.” I said with enthusiasm, “No way do I want Eshwick and his gang screwing us over by bringing lead pipes to beat us with.”
“Damn right he better not screw us over.” John said as he eagerly looked at his Pip-Boy, “We can’t afford to lose the eighth level.”
“I can’t stand the thought of Eshwick’s gang becoming as big as ours.” I said as we strolled along, “We were the only gang around before him and his fellow “[censored]s” came along.”
I noticed how eagerly John was looking at the clock on his Pip-Boy. And he seemed hell bent on taking our time. I looked at the clock on my Pip-Boy, it was 4:30. There was nothing unusual about the time, but somehow I knew something was up.
“You okay John?” I asked, “You’re acting weird.”
“Uuuhhh, no it’s nothing.” John said nervously, “I’m just keeping track of time.”
Then something occurred to me.
“Isn’t there something else happening today?” I asked confused, “Something other than the rumble?”
“No.” John quickly said again, “Nothing it’s just....”
We came to a halt; the Vault’s Overseer Cornelius Smallwood was right in front of us with his arms folded. Overseer Smallwood was always a thorn to our side. He became the Vault’s Overseer about ten years before, even before we ever started our gang he has always been on our case. Whenever I and the guys ever got in trouble, it took my Uncle Rem to convince the Overseer to go easy on us. Uncle Rem has always been on Overseer Smallwood’s good side. The Overseer always despised me and my gang.
“Just what?” He asked viciously, “What are you two up to??”
“Nothing.” I said at once, “We were just heading to me and my uncle’s quarters.”
The Overseer looked at us with distrust like a bomb about to explode. Of course it was wise for an advlt not to trust us Vault Hoodlums. Overseer Smallwood couldn’t trust us hoodlums as far as he could throw us.
“You watch yourself boy!!” The Overseer said, “If I catch you and your gang doing anything else to disturb the peace and well-being of the Vault, I swear there will be consequences.”
The Overseer walked away without another word. I was surprised to hear John sigh with relief. I knew for certain that it was not because Overseer Smallwood hadn’t punished us. There really was something going on than just the rumble. But before I could ask, John urged me to follow him. We were going to my quarters at a much faster pace now. We reached the quarters and as I opened the automatic door it was pitch dark.
“Enough with this crap!!” I said annoyed, “What the hell is going on here?!?”
John turned to me.
“Five words.” He said cunningly putting his hand up with all five fingers. “Happy Birthday you lucky bastard!!!!!!”
He flicked on the lights to show the entire room filled with our fellow hoodlums cheering. Decorations were all over the room, and the smell of delicious food filled the air. Uncle Rem was at the front of my whole gang.
“Happy Birthday kiddo.” Uncle Rem said with delight.
I then remembered...I had forgotten that it was my seventeenth birthday. I turned towards John with amusemant.
“So that’s why you were trying to keep us so occupied!!” I said laughing, “And why you were relieved that the Overseer had stopped us, you wanted to stall me so that the others were able to prepare the party.”
“Damn right.” John said, “I didn’t want you to get here too soon and cause the surprise to be spoiled man!!”
I was quite pleased with the party. I thought it may be good to celebrate before the big rumble as well as after. Of course, I never knew what would really happen that night...something I cannot laugh about to this day.

Chapter 2

After several hours of partying, the whole gang left to rest and prepare for the rumble. I sat on the sofa tired from all the excitement. Uncle Rem was drinking an ice-cold Nuka-Cola after he was done cleaning up after the party guests. Although his role in the Vault was quite opposite to mine, Uncle Rem and I were close. We never talked much about my parents though. Whenever we spoke about them he would quickly change the subject. I had a feeling that he took it hard after my parents died.
“I hope you had a fun party.” He said after awhile, “You can’t be seventeen forever, so I really hope you enjoyed it.”
“Thanks, I did.” I replied.
Uncle Rem soon turned on the Jukebox to listen to Frank Sinatra sing “The Best is Yet to Come”. I was curious about my parents at that moment, and I couldn’t get it out of my mind.
“I want to talk more about mom and dad.” I said as Uncle Rem turned the Jukebox off. “We haven’t talked very much about them.”
Uncle Rem paused for a moment. But he then got himself together and came to sit in the arm chair just across from the sofa.
“You’re right.” Uncle Rem said, “It’s your birthday after all, you have the right to know more.”
He paused for another moment and began to explain.
“About your mother.” Uncle Rem said finally, “She was a good woman, and she always had an uplifting personality.”
Uncle Rem was at a loss of words for a moment.
“She was born here in the Vault like you were.” He said, “And her family has been in the Vault since the Great War over two hundred years ago.”
“Anything else about her?” I asked with interest.
“She was passionate about others and their well-being.” He said, “And she always did her best to help others in times of grief.”
He stared into space for a moment.
“She was a good woman...no doubt about it.”
“What about dad and you?” I asked, “What were you two like back then?”
Uncle Rem once again was at a loss of words. And as I looked at him, his eyes were filled with grief. Never in my life had I seen him like this. Whatever it was, something about him and dad in the past has haunted him.
“Me and your father were not born in the Vault.” Uncle Rem said suddenly, “And we were not always who you’d think we were.”
“What do you mean??” I asked.
“It was a long time ago.” He said, “Me and your father were born far in the west, in the place that is commonly known as Arizona.”
Uncle Rem began to be uneasy.
“Me and your father were born in the year 2230, we were both twin brothers born in a tribe known as the Blackfoot tribe.”
Uncle Rem paused for a moment and then sighed.
“Around 2245, the Blackfoot were at war with seven other tribes. Many of us thought we would be wiped out. Because we lacked knowledge of firsthand experience in combat.”
“What happened then??” I asked.
Uncle Rem again stared off into space. He waited a moment until answering.
“Edward Sallow happened.” He said calmly, “Edward Sallow was a member of an organization called the Followers of the Apocalypse. He led a group of eight others; the two other leaders of this group were other two men. A fellow Follower named Bill Calhoun and a Mormon missionary named Joshua Graham. They were there to study the tribe dialects of that region.”
He turned his head towards me. He looked fearful like a puppy that was just kicked twice.
“They stayed with the Blackfoot for a time.” He said again, “But soon the expedition was being held captive in the tribe, being unable to leave.”
In the silence that followed, many questions mingled in my mind. But I wanted to hear more.
“The tribe was going to lose the war for certain. Edward Sallow was unwilling to be destroyed with us. So against the wishes of his fellow companions, he used his knowledge to train the Blackfoot tribe in the art of warfare. Even teaching the tribe how to maintain and clean guns and weapons.”
“What happened then” I asked.
“Edward impressed us all” Uncle Rem said, “We were so impressed to the point that we made him our leader. After becoming the new leader, Edward took on a new name...Caesar. We first conquered the weakest tribe: the Ridgers, and forced all of their able bodied survivors to fight for us. And we killed the rest, including the women and children.”
I was shocked at what he said. I never thought of my dad, or Uncle Rem being killers. It was like I was seeing a whole new side of Uncle Rem...only this side of him wasn’t very bright.
“After the Ridgers, we conquered the Kaibabs, and then the Fredonians. Eventually, all seven of the tribes were either destroyed, or integrated into Caesar’s army. Caesar created a new society out of the tribes he conquered and their tribal identities were erased , we named this growing empire in his honor. We became known as “Caesar’s Legion”, a name that would be feared across the land. And in the midst of it, Joshua Graham...the Mormon missionary who had been out to spread the word of God across the wastes, had joined him, and he soon became Caesar’s Legate. Caesar sent Bill Calhoun back to the Followers of the Apocalypse to inform them of what he was doing. Caesar then had us kill the remaining six members of the expedition he and Joshua were a part of.”
“This is horrible” I said, “Do you know how crazy this all sounds?!?
“I know, I know” Uncle Rem said with remorse, “Me and your father were both influenced by Caesar’s wrath, we had forgotten the differences between good and evil. Caesar had taken us both under his wing.”
Uncle Rem looked at me with wariness.
“Caesar had decided to model his Legion after the concept of the Roman Empire” He said.
“So he got his name from Julius and Augustus Caesar” I said remembering history class.
“Yes, exactly” Uncle Rem said, “He also erased our tribal identities further by giving us Latin names. Me and you’re father, being directly under Caesar, were named according to his will. You’re father was named Romulus, and I was named Remus. And we both used those names from that point on. We eventually forgot the names we had when we were only part of the Blackfoot. In fact, my name Rem is just cut from my name Remus; just I left the last two letters out. Your father did the same with his name by being called Rom.”
“What happened then?” I asked.
“We served Caesar for over ten years” Uncle Rem said suddenly. “The Legion continued to conquer many tribes and people. We then began to practice slavery, capturing women and weaker men and enforcing heavy labor upon them. By 2250, Caesar had declared himself the son of Mars, the Roman god of War and bloodshed. And with each tribe destroyed or annexed, the Legion grew larger as the years went on. Your father and I were given high ranks in the Legion: your father was a Centurion who led several masses of legionaries into battle; I became one of Caesar’s very first Praetorian Guards, who personally guarded Caesar with their lives. We both served the Legion like we were playing a board game. We followed the rules, and we killed or captured anyone who was in our sights.”
I saw the sorrow in his eyes as he continued to tell his dark past to me. Who would have thought that my dad and my uncle were once so barbaric and bloodthirsty? I wondered how they managed to overcome such a chaotic life.
“After eight years had passed” Uncle Rem continued, “We both began to realize our atrocities. And the more we did these things, the more we were losing our souls. Finally, after the establishment of Flagstaff as the Legion’s first capital, your father and I had just about enough. So one night...two years later we gathered as many provisions and weapons as we could, and we deserted Caesar’s Legion.”
Uncle Rem sighed with relief. I knew for certain that the days of blood and carnage for them were over after they left the Legion. Knowing this, I also felt relieved.
“We headed farther east out of Caesar’s controlled territory” He said, “We stopped from town to town, from one settlement to another all while trying to avoid letting Caesar’s Frumentarii reveal our whereabouts. It took three years and over two thousand miles to get all the way from Arizona to here in the Liberty Wasteland.”
Uncle Rem’s expression lightened.
“Eventually, we discovered Vault 122, and decided to settle here. Your father and I both changed our names like I mentioned, and became Vault security guards. We were comfortable in our new home; we officially left our life in the Legion behind and embraced a new life. And soon your father met Sophia; your mother.”
Uncle Rem smiled for the first time since the party earlier. Now that I think about it, I rarely ever saw Uncle Rem smile.
“Romulus and Sophia...your father and mother were married in 2263. Three years later, you were born. Your father was happier than I had ever seen him. With you and your mother in his life, he was able to easily forget his past and enjoy a peaceful life. I was still haunted by the years in the Legion we spent together, but so long as my brother was happy, I was happy.”
Uncle Rem’s sunlit expression then reduced back into a dark, haunting look of remorse.
“But then two years later” He said, “The reactor in the lowest level of the Vault began to malfunction, air in the lower levels began to be toxic. Residents living down there began to suffocate, and deaths were being reported. We quickly started to evacuate the surviving residents to the upper levels, but there were many other residents trapped down there, your parents and I refused to leave them for dead.”
For the first time in my life, I saw my Uncle breaking down in tears.
“We went down into the toxic areas” He said with a quiver in his voice, “I managed to get a few children out alive, and an elderly woman. Your parents got a few others back alive, but they didn’t give up. They went back to quickly check for more survivors.........they never came back.”
Uncle Rem was sobbing greatly now. I never knew my parents, but I knew how he felt.
“I wished I could have stopped them from going back. It should have been me that died down there!!”
“Uncle Rem!!!” I said suddenly, “Don’t talk like that. There was nothing you could have done.”
Uncle Rem looked up at me, tears soaring down his face.
“They loved you so much” He said. “They had great things in mind for you.”
He sat upright and wiped the tears that had drenched his face.
“After your mother and father’s death it took the maintenance team months to vent the toxic air and repair the reactor. I adopted you, and I was more than happy to take you in.”
Uncle Rem was calm again.
“Well that’s it” He said, “I know you may think me and your father were monsters for what we did in the Legion. I’m sorry for what we had done. I wish things would have been better for us....for you.”
“It’s alright” I said trying to uplift him, “That was years ago Uncle Rem, your changed now and you don’t need to worry about me.”
Uncle Rem smiled at me once again.
“Your right” He said, “I have never revealed so much of myself to anyone but your parents, and I feel like a burden has been lifted off my shoulders, thank you.”
Uncle Rem stood up and walked toward the bookshelf at the other end of the room. He turned on the terminal right next to the shelf and typed a password in it.
“What are you doing?” I ask confused.
“Showing you proof of our past” Uncle Rem said.
The bookshelf slides to one side and reveals a small room. I get up from my seat to look closely and find that it is an armory. Two suits of armor stand back to back in the center, the armor on the left looked like armor forged with pieces of other armor with a helmet that had a large brill. On the on the right was a set of armor that was made with a set of football shoulder pads covering the shoulders neck and chest with a baseball catcher’s vest covering the lower chest. On the head of the dummy wearing the armor was a pair of sunglasses. Both pairs of armor were coated with crimson red. On the sides of the room were different types of weapons. Among the weapons, I saw a machete that was forged and stylized into what seems to be a Roman Gladius. I see also an unloaded 45. Pistol on a small table, and then I see what seems to be some sort of Power Fist. This Power Fist was different though, it was not large and bulky like a normal Power Fist, and it was smaller, dark and looked slightly more aggressive than regular Power Fists.
“What are these things?” I ask.
“These were the weapons your father and I used during our time in the Legion” Uncle Rem said, “The armor on the left is the armor of a Centurion, which was your father’s armor as well as the Gladius and the pistol. The armor on the right is the armor of the Praetorian Guard, which was my armor. The only weapons that we Praetorians used were either our own fists, or Ballistic Fists like that one over there.”
Uncle Rem then used the terminal to close the secret room. The bookshelf slid back into its original position.
“Those are just relics from our past that I had to store away” He said coldly. “I think I’m going to get some sleep now, Happy Birthday kiddo.”
Uncle Rem came up to me pat me on the shoulder, hugged me and went straight to his bedroom. I sat down, bewildered by the talk we had just had. I went to my room to get a little sleep before the rumble. But I pondered on the things which Uncle Rem had told me. He and dad were both killers before they came here.
What if I become like that?

Chapter 3

I woke up to John tugging on my shoulder. I was still pondering the talk I had with Uncle Rem earlier.
“Come on, get up” John said, “It’s time for the rumble, let’s get to it.”
I got up and put my leather jacket on, and we snuck out of Uncle Rem’s quarters. We silently crept onto the elevator and rode it down to the lower levels. I was still thinking of the conversation with Uncle Rem. I still wondered if I would become just like him and dad were when they were in the Legion. The thought of that sent a chill down my spine. I understood the difference between right from wrong and good and evil. But what if the things I did then....were only a foreshadowing of what I could’ve been? What if I became barbaric and bloodthirsty?
“Something wrong?” John asked noticing my uneasiness.
“No” I said lying, “Just thinking about how I will kick Eshwick’s ass.”
John chuckled at my lie like it was a sarcastic statement. I didn’t dare tell him about my conversation with Uncle Rem. It was better to take out my nervousness by fighting. So what I said to John wasn’t a complete lie. But I didn’t feel comfortable with telling the others about Uncle Rem’s past. We finally made it to the floor were the rumble was taking place. The rest of the gang was already gathered together. We silently waited for Darrel Eshwick and his gang to show up. We all began to talk about what we would do after the fight. Two members of the gang, Roger and Luther were both debating on whether or not they should tag team together against their rivals from Eshwick’s gang.
“Alright gang!!” I said getting their attention, “Eshwick and his pals are going to be here any moment now. They are going to be ready to kick our butts as much as we’re ready for theirs. But we will not let them take any of our territory away from us. They can take their business elsewhere, because we are true Vault Hoodlums, and we aren’t taking any of their crap!!!
“Hell yeah!!” Roger says with glee, “They’ll never see it coming man!!!”
“Let’s kick some ass!!!” John cried.
“Let’s give ‘em what’s coming!!” Luther cried.
The rest of the gang cheers with excitement. A moment later Eshwick’s gang finally arrive. Eshwick brought same number of gang members as I had; about fifteen or so. Each of them was looking tough and ready to kick our asses. It wasn’t long before Eshwick himself finally arrived with his broadly built right-hand man Samson on his side. Samson was once a part of our gang in our earlier years, but he believed he was too much of a “servant” in the gang. So when Eshwick began to set up his gang, he deserted us to achieve a better place in Eshwick’s gang.
“Alright, let’s get this over with!!!” Eshwick said viciously, “Bout time we gave you [censored]s what you deserve!!!”
“You’ll get what YOU deserve Eshwick!” I said triumphantly, “Unlike you and your boys, we’re the best!!!”
“We’ll see about that.” Samson said with cunning determination.
There was a moment of silence between our gang and Eshwick’s gang. We prepared to make our first move. John and I decided to pair up to fight Eshwick and Samson together. The others could fight who they pleased.
“FIGHT!!!!!” We all shouted. And the rumble began.
Both gangs formed a dog pile as the fight commenced. But soon the pile was separating all over the whole room. John and I managed to stick together and fight it out. Members of both gangs were still fighting, while a few others were either knocked out cold or injured on the floor. John and I stood back to back as we fought through members of Eshwick’s gang. We finally came across Eshwick and Samson fighting together. They looked at me and John with intimidating gestures and came after us.
“Fight us you lazy cowards!!!” Eshwick said with fury.
As we prepared to fight, Samson dealt a devastating punch to my left eye. I gasped with pain and I stumbled backwards. I knew by the shocked look on John’s face when he looked at me that I had a black eye. This didn’t prevent me from retaliating. When Samson attempted another heavy blow, I dodged it and elbowed him in the gut. Now Samson yelped with pain just as John came running and svcker punched Samson to the floor. Before I could marvel at Samson’s growing pain; I see Eshwick running towards me to wrestle me to the floor. I turn around just in time to kick him in the shin and I catch him in a headlock.
“You’ll pay for what you did to Samson!!” Eshwick says while in my grasp.
While hearing Eshwick curse me out, I eagerly wait for John to come punch the crap out of him----
“Allow me boss.” Samson replies as he gets up from the floor.
John attempts to throw another punch at Samson, but Samson elbows John in the chest, then he grabs John’s arm and flips him over like a rag doll. The impact on the floor knocks John out cold. Samson then focuses his attention on me. But before I could react, Eshwick gets out of my headlock by biting my arm. I feel the stabbing pain go up my arm as I let go, foolishly allowing Eshwick to escape my grasp. Eshwick bite me hard enough to leave a slight bleeding wound on my elbow. As I dwell on my pain, Samson grabs me by the shoulders and now has me in a lock.
“You’re dead...” Eshwick says grimly to me.
I notice him grab something out of his pocket.
“What are you doing?!?” I ask with uncertainty.
It takes me a moment to realize that he has pulled out a switchblade. Eshwick stares at me with a look of bloodthirsty lust. I then realize that Eshwick and Samson intend to kill me to win territory from my gang. Eshwick runs toward me ready to impale me in the heart. But just as he is about to achieve his goal, Luther trips Eshwick over. Though Eshwick doesn’t kill me, as he falls to the ground his switchblade is close enough to my face that when he falls forward, his blade slices a cut down my right eye. I’m too shocked by this unpleasant circumstance to cry out in pain. I look around to see those fighting it out around me. Roger is bleeding down on one side of his face as he fights against one member of Eshwick’s gang, three other members gang up on Luther by pinning him down on the floor, I see John still unconscious on the floor. The conversation I had with Uncle Rem comes back to mind as I see our gangs fight each other.
“Time to die like the runt you are!!!” Samson shouts as he lets his grasp on me loose.
I turn around to see Samson pull out his own switchblade on me. He manages to stab me in the shoulder; I cry out in pain and I fall to my knees with the switchblade still stabbed into my left shoulder. However, I manage to muster the strength to punch Samson in the face. This sends Samson flying backwards to the floor.
“I’m going to kill you!!!!!” Eshwick cries getting back on his feet.
Eshwick soon charges at me with his switchblade in hand. I was in unbearable pain at that moment. I was nearly about to suffer my fate in Eshwick’s hands when I remember the switchblade lodged in my shoulder. In a final act of defense, I quickly, but painfully pull the switchblade out and.......the next thing I remember, I see the bloody switchblade in my hand. I am petrified. I look around and see that almost everyone is gone. Anyone left are injured on the floor or struggling to get out quickly. All of a sudden, I feel a tug on my shoulder. And I turn to see that it is John, and that he had regained consciousness.
“You got to get up!!!!” John cried, “Security will be here any second, we need to leave now!!!!”
I try to remember what had just happened.
“Where’s Eshwick?!?” I asked frightened, “What happened?!?”
One look on John’s face revealed that something was horribly wrong.
“What happened?!?” I asked again.
“It’s Eshwick.....he’s dead!!” John said with a quiver in his voice, “He tried to kill you...but you raised that switchblade and killed him first!!!”
I turn around to see Eshwick’s lifeless corpse on the floor in a pool of blood. The murderous look he had when he charged at me was still on his pale face.
“No.” I said with agony.
I had killed Darrel Eshwick. The memories of the conversation between me and Uncle Rem burned into my mind. I pictured Uncle Rem and my dad when they first killed a person in cold blood. They were raised to enjoy it.....I was horrified. I had become the very monster Uncle Rem thought he and dad were, after Uncle Rem told me about his past.....I was fearful that I would become the same way as he and dad when they were in the Legion. But I had ignored this thought when the rumble started.....I was a fool.
“The alarms are going off!!!” John said at once, “Security is will be here soon, we need to get out of here now!!”
Apart from the pain in the stab wound on my shoulder, and my swollen black eye, I was paralyzed with fear. I shouldn’t have gone through with this. I wished I would die right there to join Eshwick.
“Go without me.” I said with remorse, “Just run and don’t look back!!”
“What?!?” John asked with a hurry, “I can’t just...”
“GO!!!” I yelled.
John wasn’t in a position to argue. He ran to the nearby exit. I couldn’t believe this was happening; I wanted it to be just a dream. But I had to accept the fact that this was real and that there was nothing to change that. It wasn’t long before I heard footsteps all around me. Security had arrived.
“What the hell is this?!?” A security officer asked when he looked down at Eshwick.
He and a few other officers looked at me with the blood-soaked switchblade in my hand and then down at Eshwick’s mangled body.
“You’re coming with us!!!” An officer declared.
Two officers seized the switchblade out of my hands and handcuffed me. They took me to the jail cells. This is where I would be interrogated by the head of security...Uncle Rem.

Chapter 4

I sat there on the bed waiting for an uncertain fate. The stab wound on my shoulder was bandaged and I held an ice pack to my left eye. The previous night’s events replayed in my mind continually: my conversation with Uncle Rem, the rumble, killing Eshwick. I wanted it all to stop, and then Uncle Rem finally arrived. His face was full of distraught and confusion.
“What happened?!?” Uncle Rem asked at once.
I explained everything that had happened in the rumble.
“This is bad.” He said with distress. “The report is true; I can’t believe you did this!!”
“I know.” I said with remorse. “I’m sorry Uncle Rem...I screwed up, I’m a murderer!!!”
“Calm down.” Uncle Rem said, “I know you wouldn’t do this intentionally. But the Overseer thinks so. And he is not going to listen to me this time...he is discussing your punishment.”
I saw this coming. I would know with a right mind that Overseer Smallwood would not tolerate the rumble, especially what I did to Eshwick. But for once, I understood the Overseer’s frustration over the things my gang did. Whatever punishment I get.....I deserve.
“You think he may have me executed?” I asked without emotion.
“Somehow I don’t think so.” Uncle Rem said.
“Will he have me locked up down here for the rest of my life?” I asked looking around my prison cell.
“I have no clue.” Uncle Rem said. “One thing for sure is that the rest of your friends are saying that you killed Darrel on accident. Although the Overseer may think so, the rest of the council believes Darrel’s death to be an accident on your part.”
I thought it was too good to be true.
“But they believe that since it was your idea to instigate that rumble, you must be punished.”
“Makes sense.” I say reluctantly. “I screwed everything up. I wish I had never had this rumble, it’s all my fault.”
“It’s alright.” Uncle Rem said reassuringly. “We could still have a chance, we just...”
All of a sudden, a security officer walked in and quietly whispered something in Uncle Rem’s ear. Uncle Rem’s look of worry turns into that of seriousness. After the officer leaves my prison cell, Uncle Rem looks at me.
“What is it?” I ask.
“The Overseer has come to a decision.” Uncle Rem says, “He will be here shortly to inform us of your punishment.”
“Oh super...” I think sarcastically.
It was fifteen minutes before Overseer Smallwood showed up. His eyes stared down at me like a hawk ready to catch its prey.
“After much discussion, we have come to a decision.” The Overseer said.
“What’s the situation Cornelius?” Uncle Rem asks eagerly.
“The council and I debated much concerning your actions.” The Overseer said, “After receiving feedback from witnesses and some further investigation, the council has voted not to execute you...neither will we imprison you.”
Uncle Rem sighs with relief. But I don’t, because I know I wouldn’t just get let off the hook like that.
“There is a problem though...” The Overseer says suddenly.
Uncle Rem is bewildered.
“Although you have been confirmed innocent of your “accident”, the council is not pleased with the fact that you started this rumble in the first place.”
The Overseer angry expression turns into an ambitious smile.
“Although we cannot execute or imprison you, we have agreed upon a reasonable punishment.”
“Don’t tell me...” Uncle Rem says instantly.
“You and your overzealous gang have been a threat to Vault 122’s safety and well-being. Though your past offenses were ignored for the most part, this rumble you instigated will not be pardoned. Your rumble has cost the life of a fellow Vault citizen, and leaving several others injured.”
“Cornelius please don’t!!” Uncle Rem said desperately.
The Overseer shoots an angry look at Uncle Rem.
“I’m sorry Remus” The Overseer says, “But there is nothing you can do for him anymore. He brought this upon himself.” The Overseer turns back to me.
“Though it’s been proven you did not intentionally kill Mr. Eshwick, planning this rumble proves the dangers you alone pose to the safety of the Vault.”
“What’s my punishment?” I ask impatiently.
The Overseer’s hawk-like eyes stared down into mine once again.
“You do not deserve execution, and you aren’t in the position of a life sentence here in the prison. So there is only one solution that we agreed upon, to ensure this does not happen again.....banishment.”
Banishment, that word hit me like a bullet to the brain.
“Cornelius.” Uncle Rem said, “There has to be something we can do. We can’t just put him out in the Wasteland like that!!”
“The decision is final.” The Overseer says calmly. He gives Uncle Rem one last look and then darts back at me.
“You will be sent out of the Vault into the Wasteland.....and you can never come back. You will have one week to say goodbye to your friends and family...now good riddance.”
The Overseer angrily walks out of my cell without another word. We did not utter a single word for a long time. I was being banished from the place that I had grown up in. I was being sent out into the Wasteland, a place I barely knew about. The only times I’ve ever heard about it was during history class in school, or in my conversation with Uncle Rem the previous night.
“I just don’t believe this is happening.” Uncle Rem said hopelessly, “I wish there was something I could.....”
“Don’t say it.” I say with heartbreak, “He’s right Uncle Rem; I made the stupid decision to go through with this rumble.”
I look onto the floor, guilt hanging over me like a dark cloud.
“I need to know more about the Wasteland if im going to make it.”
“I’ll tell you everything I know.” Uncle Rem says, “The Wasteland is the result of the Great War that occurred exactly two hundred and six years ago as of yesterday.”
I give Uncle Rem a look of confusion.
“My birthday was the day the Great War occurred?” I ask with bewilderment.
“Yeah.” Uncle Rem said reluctantly.
“Well that’s ironic.” I said surprised.
“Anyway.” Uncle Rem says going back to the subject at hand, “The nuclear war heads ravaged the earth dramatically. Most buildings and cities were demolished or severely damaged; save it were a few lucky cities that were not directly hit by the warheads.”
I listened trying to piece together this knowledge for my eventual journey.
“After the Great War, radiation was present almost all over the place. Many plants that once flourished the earth were now dead and Earth was changed into a barren desert.”
Uncle Rem has the same look of horror and sorrow he had during our conversation the previous night.
“The remaining inhabitants formed factions and tribes, and over time, began warring with one another. With no government to unite under, the world has now been turned into an anarchic state. Even though over two centuries have passed, most of the world is no better at all.”
“How will I survive and where will I go?” I ask.
“Outside of this Vault.” Uncle Rem states, “You will be in the Liberty Wasteland, the ruins of a place once known as New York. The more organized part of the region is Manhattan Island in the city. If you ever have a thought of going there, I recommend crossing the George Washington Bridge. The closest settlement to the Vault is Secaucus, which is to the north. The settlers will welcome you there, so long as you treat them right, and you obey their laws, that’s how it was when me and your father stayed there for a period of time.”
“How will I know Secaucus when I see it?” I ask.
“It will at first seem like abandoned ruins. But towards the center will be a large stone barricade surrounding the old time square.” He says. “That will be where the main town will be.”
Uncle Rem again has the smile that he had when he told me about his and my dad’s life when they came to the Vault.
“If you get there, find a man named Phoenix. He will give you any extra supplies and equipment you will need, he may even get you informed on any news about what is happening out there.”
“What do you mean “if” I get there?” I ask.
“The Wasteland is an inhospitable place.” He says. “It is filled with several mutated creatures.”
Uncle Rem frowns for a moment.
“And mutants are not the only thing you have to fear...there are men and women out there who are killers. And if there is a chance that you have something valuable on your person, those kinds of people will not hesitate to put a bullet into your head.”
Uncle Rem and I lock eyes for a moment. I know what he also means by that. I have to be careful with who I can trust. And if im not careful, I will be dead.
“Just be careful.” Uncle Rem says, “If you just manage to reach Secaucus, you’ll be safe.”
For the rest of the time we were silent. This would be one of my last moments together with Uncle Rem. A lot had happened since the previous day. I lived a year within twenty-four hours, and there was no going back. I would be spending the rest of my life out in a barren land that I barely had any knowledge of.
Eventually Uncle Rem left for his quarters. I laid on the cot in my prison cell. My stab wound on my shoulder was bandaged after I was brought in here. The medic had told me that it would heal in just a few days. I held an ice pack on my swollen black eye. But with all the injuries, I was in no condition to complain.
Eventually John and few others from my gang came to visit me. They wept at the news that I was being banished. But I reassured them that I would be fine. But I wasn’t even sure about that myself. I don’t know what will happen to me out in the Wasteland. Whether I will die of hunger, thirst or fatigue, or if I will be brutally slaughtered by bloodthirsty mutant creatures. Then the same gruesome thought I had before the rumble came to me....what if I become a brutal killer just like Uncle Rem and my dad?
A week went by fast. After many teary eyed visits and good-byes from my gang and the rest of my friends.....my Uncle Rem arrived with a group of security guards. They restrained my wrists with handcuffs and escorted me to the entrance level.
This was the end of the line for me.

Chapter 5

Overseer Smallwood was waiting at the blast door to the Vault. I gazed up at the enormous size of the door. It was over ten feet tall; and I saw that it was shaped like a gear. I had always heard in history class that the blast doors were four feet thick, and were capable of withstanding a direct by a nuclear missile. I can’t say I agree with that rumor, but it was incredible. It was too bad I would be thrown outside its protective shielding forever.
“I hope you enjoyed your last few days here in the Vault!!” The Overseer sneered, “Don’t even think about resisting, you’ll be thrown out of this Vault dead or alive!!!”
“He knows that!!!” Uncle Rem says angrily, “He is not going to fight back; he has come to terms with his punishment!!!”
I find myself depressingly nodding in agreement with him. In a way, I have come to terms with my banishment.
“Very well.” The Overseer says calmly. He then locks eyes with me.
“As I have said; you will be escorted out this blast door and will be locked behind you.”
He gestures towards the console to the right of the blast door.
“Once the door is closed you will proceed up the cavern and there will be a wood door that will lead into the outside world. Your Pip-Boy will be useful for your unlikely survival.”
His couple last words send a chill down my spine. He walks aside and has a security guard type in a password on the consol. After pulling down the main switch, a screeching alarm echoes across the room. A large mechanism grasps the blast door on the center handle and starts pulling the door towards us. The loud screech of the Vault hurts my ears as it is pulled out of the slot that it was in, and as it pulled out of the slot, it comes to a halt and then gently rolls to the side. The slot were the door was is now a large gear shaped hole leading out into a cave. I look at the Overseer and the security guards. The Overseer gestures a guard to escort me outside the door. But just as a guard began to approach me, Uncle Rem gets in between me and the guard.
“I’ll do it!!” Uncle Rem said with haste, “He’s my nephew, I will escort him out.”
Uncle Rem puts his hand on my shoulder and nudges me to walk forward. When we are just outside the Vault door, we take one last look at each other and Uncle Rem embraces me. I hear shed tears that drip down onto my leather jacket. The thought that this was the last time me and Uncle Rem would be together makes me weep as well.
“Be careful out there.” He says silently, “It’s dangerous out there; Secaucus is marked on your Pip-Boy map. Don’t lose hope; I know you can make it outside, because you’re strong. You can start a new life for yourself out there, you can start over....just as me and your father did.”
I weep even harder than Uncle Rem now.
“Thank you Uncle Rem.” I utter as he lets go.
“Good-bye....I love you.”
Uncle Rem gives me a duffel bag and walks back into the Vault Entrance. As he comes to a halt, the Overseer gives the security guard the signal to close the blast door. The security guard puts in the code and pulls the switch.
Uncle Rem gives me one last look as the Vault begins to close. He smiles just as he had during the conversation we had just over a week before.....and then before I know it, the Vault door is closed. That was the last time I ever saw Uncle Rem.
“You can start over...just as me and your father did.”
Those words echoed in my head as I stood there. I may have screwed up when I killed accidentally Eshwick....but I can still make up for it.
My handcuffs electronically come off and my hands are free. I then look into the Duffel bag Uncle Rem gave me. I open it and look inside to examine the contents. I find ten stimpacks, and a few other medical items. I find a few food rations and a few bottles of water. But then I find some stuff that is quite familiar. And I look closer and realize it is stuff from Uncle Rem’s secret room with his and dad’s old weapons. The sunglasses Uncle Rem once wore as a Praetorian Guard, the Gladius my dad once wield as a centurion, and then I find my dad’s 45. pistol along with a couple boxes of ammo. I wrap the gun holster around my waist, and I attach the sheath of the Gladius to one side and holster my dad’s pistol.
I take one last look at the Vault door, it bears the number 122. I then walk a way...from my former life....and I reach the wooden door. I open it and walk into a blinding light...I go in further. And I begin my journey to Secaucus......

To Be Continued.......

Well that was part one. But that is not all. There will be a parts two, three, four and possibly five. Tell me what you guys what you think, I hope you enjoyed it.