prewarsurvivor-blog

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

Being from a vault lead to this weird sense of almost wonder from the citizens of the Commonwealth, at least the ones who weren’t trying to kill you. They all wanted to know what life was like before, what the vault was like. They had so many questions and it was all a matter of deciding if you were ready to talk about them. Daniel still had no idea what had really happened after the bombs fell, nobody really wanted to talk about it. Not that Daniel could blame them really. 

“Yeah.” It seemed obvious that Piers knew exactly what he meant by complications, and Daniel was almost thankful for that. Because he couldn’t recall how many times he’d been asked to recount just what happened in the vault. He was over it, over reliving the tragedy any time people asked. “I’m from Vault 111. So there’s got to be at least that many. It’s incredible...if they’d only just put forth the money there towards fixing our war.” Shaking his head, Daniel sighed. “They were experiments of a sort. But that’s all I really know.”  

“No...he was kidnapped from the vault, they killed my wife for him. He’s just a baby...” Grimacing, Daniel looked at Piers. He’d been all over the Commonwealth, trying to find something, anything about what had happened to his little boy. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that.” he said, nodding. It wouldn’t hurt to have another person helping him out, maybe between the two of them they could find his son. 

 There was something about Piers that was different than the other people in the Commonwealth. Not necessarily negatively, but something different all the same. Daniel couldn’t put his finger on it, but he wasn’t really going to bother with it, if the other man decided to tell him? Then he’d happily listen.

“Really?” That hadn’t been what he was expecting at all. Smiling brightly, Daniel nods as well, understanding in his eyes. “It’s definitely interesting to meet someone who understands how incredibly baffling it is being here. The world is so different for me, it must be centuries different from what you remember then.”

There had been a few occasions when Piers pretended to have emerged from a vault. It was mostly because people looked at him and assumed that he was a former vault dweller, and since it was easier to just agree with them and go along with their assumption, he did. While it didn’t account for the years between 2013 and 2077, it did go some ways to explaining his lack of knowledge about the events which had led the world to this point. Now he was finding out that Daniel was in a similar stat of ignorance, and presumably, he’d also had to learn about this new world order. It was oddly comforting for Piers to discover he wasn’t alone.

“Complications,” Pier echoed, understanding fully the meaning behind the word. Of a vault full of people, there were only two survivors. The thought gave Piers an uncomfortable knot in his stomach. It was tragic. “Hey, does anyone know exactly how many vaults there are? Someone once told me that there are over a hundred, which is an incredible figure when you think about it! The money it must have cost to build them…” 

“Wait, did you say you can’t find your son? Didn’t the two of you come out of stasis together? How old is he?” Piers couldn’t imagine how it felt to know you had family out there but be unable to locate them. From Daniel’s tone, he’d obviously looked. “If you need an extra pair of eyes, I’d be happy to help!” There was no hesitation or doubt in the offer.

As yet, Piers still hadn’t given Daniel any indication that he was also a relic of the past. He was in two minds over whether to share or not. Chewing his lip, he internally debated it - what was the worst that could happen if he was honest with Daniel? If the other man was telling the truth, and Piers felt certain he was, then it gave them some common ground. A problem shared is a problem halved, or something like that. 

“My situation isn’t a million miles away from yours, as it happens. It’s actually kind of cool to meet someone who has gone through a similar experience. I wasn’t in a vault, but I was in a kind of stasis. Woke up wondering what in the hell had happened to the world and I’m still not sure I really understand it, haha.”

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

Daniel was a product of special circumstances, he wasn’t a ghoul because of the vault, but often times he found himself almost wishing he’d never opened the door to the Vault-Tec man. But then a part of him knew that it was worth it for whatever life his son had because of it. Though it didn’t stop him from missing Nora something fierce. It probably seemed impossible, to find out that he was from the past, but everyone took it in stride.

Daniel had expected to be met more with suspicion and disbelief, rather than people believing what he said, despite how true it was. Because it was a big story to believe, a man from over two hundred years ago who wasn’t a ghoul? The very idea seemed preposterous, and Daniel probably should have kept it to himself, but he never much liked keeping secrets.

“Yeah, they had two good sized rooms, with two rows of the chambers. Hell, there could have honestly been more, but I couldn’t bring myself to look. I knew a lot of the people in there.” Daniel murmured. He rubbed a hand over his chin before laughing weakly. “Thanks. Unfortunately, I think only my son and I survived...and I can’t even find him. Everyone else had...complications.” It was best to leave it at that.

Considering the question again, he tapped fingers against his jaw, before his hand fell to his side. “I only know of one other vault in the Commonwealth that has a ‘success’ story. But they’re all a bit, xenophobic now.” He’d been lucky and proven his welcome into the vault, but it seemed rare. Daniel was still learning so much here, there were so many things to do, and so much to learn, but he was working on settling into this strange new life.

In all his wandering, over a couple of years or maybe more, the only people Piers had met who claimed to be from a time before were ghouls. They had provided Piers with valuable insight into the world, how it came to be the way it was. They were living relics, full of history and stories, waiting to be shared. But never had Piers expected to meet a non-irradiated human from a pre-war era. Yet that was precisely what Daniel was telling him.

Perhaps he should have found it hard to believe. It was some tale, after all, and Piers had no real way of knowing whether or not it was true. In lieu of any other options, he chose to believe it, perhaps out of hope more than anything else. There were very few people who knew about his origins, primarily because he expected his story to be met by disbelief, but there was also the concern that it might just put a target on his back. People killed for all sorts of reasons.

“Frozen? Like cryogenics? I wasn’t even aware that was actually possible.” There had been experiments in his time, but as far as he knew, without much success. Certainly, not to the point where someone could be frozen and then thawed, and survive the process. “I’ve heard that the vaults were used for all kinds of experiments on people. Most sound like they were spectacular failures. Yours clearly wasn’t. Well done on surviving! Are you the only one?”

Daniel’s revelation brought a great many questions to Piers’ mind, but rather than bombard the man with them all at once, he held back and asked only the most relevant. What he wanted to know was if there were others like Daniel out there - others like them both. Men, women, who were out of time and strangers to this world. Clearly, Daniel had settled in much the same way as Piers had, learning as he went. Maybe they could teach each other a few things.

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

The world had started to go to hell before Daniel even joined the military, hell, probably before he even hit puberty if he was honest. Things had started falling apart rapidly, and it was a snowball down a vicious slope into a nuclear war. Daniel was thankful his memory was still mostly intact, that it had pieced back together after the disorientation of waking back up after being frozen.

He’d started writing it down, using burned books he could salvage and later a terminal he’d managed to piece together from scraps of others. “It’s vital, to keep looking forward. It’s the only way you’re going to get anywhere, even in this world.” Daniel nodded thoughtfully before shifting. “It’s good you found people you could trust, there’s too little of that anymore.” he mused. But Daniel was willing to give this thing with Piers a try, this newfound potential for friendship in a world where companionship was vital.

Piers raised a brow, obviously thrown by something Daniel had said, and the survivor arched one of his own. He listened to the question, pondered it out before laughing softly. The man had never made secret of when he was from, but he supposed perhaps Piers hadn’t run across Diamond City really. “It’s vastly different now,, I’m from a very different time.”

Daniel chuckled, lifting shoulders in a shrug. “I’ve never had any reason to hide it. Maybe I should have, but it was easier to just be honest than pretend I had any idea what was going on anymore. But you’re right. This is a new friendship and I don’t expect you to spill anything yet.” Rubbing a hand over his chin, Daniel exhaled slowly. “I was alive before the Great War. Before the bombs dropped. I was frozen in a vault here in Boston, and I grew up here before everything went to hell.”

From what Piers had learned of history - what his future would have been - the world really started going to hell a long time after his disappearance. In some respects, he was glad of having been spared watching the horror of that. It was hard to ignore the fact that he had missed out on two and a half centuries of life, though, and most of it was lost to time, never to be recovered. He’d heard stories, but he could never be entirely sure of their accuracy. 

“I like to consider myself something of an optimist, too. There’s a lot to look forward to in life, even when the world is one giant shithole. Making friends is a very important part of that and I’m lucky that I have found a few good ones along the way.” As hard as it could be, sometimes, you had to take a leap of faith and actually believe in someone. If Daniel was willing to take a chance on Piers, then Piers could do the same for Daniel.

Again, though, Daniel said something peculiar and Piers raised a curious brow. Rather than tell his own story, as vaguely invited to by the other man, he had a question of his own. “Sorry, you claimed to have lived here all your life, but it’s different than you remember? Not that I’m casting any doubt on what you’re saying, but those two things don’t really mesh together too well. It’s a strange way of phrasing it.” 

Strange didn’t even start to cover it and Piers was well used to having to watch what he said that it was easy to pick up on subtleties like that in someone else. A fledgling friendship they might have, but that didn’t meant that they could be completely honest and open with each other. Piers understood that. “Listen, man, I won’t be offended if you don’t want to tell me. You’re right in saying that I have a story to tell, but maybe it’s too early for us to be sharing our deepest, darkest secrets.”

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

“Something like that.” Daniel mused. He longed for the simpler life that he’d had with his wife, but he didn’t miss the chaos and poverty that went along with the world before. This new world, there was a chance for a new balance. Though there was things that the Survivor definitely missed. “Seems that way, we’ll have to sit down for a drink or food sometime and talk more.”

Nodding, Daniel could easily agree with what Piers said. Because they did need something, a semblance of connection between cities. It was just too far stretched now, and with no telecommunications or cars, it took forever to travel. The Brotherhood was the only group that had the easy transportation down. And then came the challenge of getting people to work together to form the communities. To convince them that there was absolutely safety in numbers against the wasteland creatures.

“I’m optimistic, besides, it’s important to make friends in this world, there’s a lot going on and very little that you can do on your own.” Daniel shrugged simply, not feeling there was really any reason to not trust this man. Of course he didn’t blindly trust, but Piers seemed trustworthy enough, and Daniel’s instincts were usually good. “Would definitely appreciate it a lot. You’d have access to food, water and a bed any time you came around, or if you decided to stay.” he offered.

Sitting here was nice, a good change in pace from having to constantly be on the move. Especially when it came to sitting with another person. It seemed Daniel often didn’t get to do that without being sent to help people. Not that he judged Preston, or people who needed help, but it was nice to sit and just talk. “I was born in Boston, spent my whole life here. Though, it’s different than I remember.” He said softly, nodding. Looking at Piers, he arched an eyebrow. “Sounds like you’ve got a story to tell.”

“Old world sensibilities…” Piers nodded thoughtfully, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “It sounds as if we might have a few things in common.” It was an odd thing for the other man to say - old life. Sounded very similar to the way Piers thought, but how likely was it that there could be two of them who came from a true bygone era? Maybe it was nostalgia for a world Daniel had never known.

“People have their own ways of fending for themselves, but it’d be good to see some semblance of civilisation building up again. I mean, there are sort of cities. Out west, you have New Vegas and here you’ve got Diamond City, but they’re still small, fledgling cities. I guess it’s hard, though, and these things grow with each generation.” There weren’t strong connections between these places either, other than a few trade routes. No global communications existed any more. People from the Commonwealth could only really meet people from Nevada - or anywhere in between - by actually travelling there. And that took a hell of a lot of time. Even with the will, you had to convince the people that community was better than going it alone. 

“I have to say, that’s a generous offer to make to a stranger. Either I’ve made a really good impression on you, you’re incredibly trusting or you’re trying to scam me in some way. But I’m an optimistic kind of guy, so I’m going to assume it’s the first of those.” The offer of power armour appealed to Piers greatly. He didn’t need it really, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want it. Those suits were cool! “I’ll see what I can find for you. I’ve got pretty good at scavenging. Had a lot of practice. Usually, I sell stuff on for caps or food but exchanging for a bed sounds even better." 

Reluctant to get back out there, Piers was content to sit and chat for a while longer. About Boston, or about the world in general. He didn’t mind because the important, and pleasant, part of it was just interacting with another person. "I grew up in Nevada, so I guess that’s home for me but I actually left it for a long time. It’s only in recent years I ended up back there and it was more of an accident than anything else.”

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

“Just Daniel, you don’t have to call me sir.” the survivor said with a small smile. He didn’t need the extra title, it was enough that half the Commonwealth called him General all the time.

Daniel arched his eyebrow before standing. “I’m guessing you haven’t really given the town a look have you? We have a good sized filter, it keeps the water from being radioactive and there’s more than enough because it collects from the rain. Trust me, you can clean up if you want.”

“I will. I promise, sir.” This gave him hope. Hope he had lost months ago when he’d lost his older brother to the super mutants. Sure, Miles would always feel empty not having his brother by his side, but could you blame him. Connor was his twin and when he was taken from him, a part of Miles was ripped out. Now he had something that could push the sorrowful feelings out of him if he kept himself busy.

“Cleaned up?” Miles then questioned when he came bake into the conversation. You have water that isn’t radioactive? Shouldn’t you be saving that? Look I…I don’t mind being like this. It’s a waste of water.” As much as Miles wanted to get himself clean he would rather not use up water that could have a better use.

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

“It’s fine, I’m not going to ostracize you for calling me sir.” Daniel laughed quietly. “Besides, I still do it sometimes, call it old world sensibilities. They’re still a part of me from my old life.” he said with a shrug, offering Piers a kind little smile. He understood it all too well, growing up in a military family and then joining the military himself, the mannerisms were just ingrained.

“Maybe, wouldn’t hurt any to have a branch that actually cares about the resettlement of the people who live there. Rather than who can build the nicest area for themselves.” Daniel grimaced, it was the worst part of ‘governmental’ structures in this new world. He lived in a modest space outside of the settlements, if only to facilitate trades throughout the Commonwealth. His space in Sanctuary Hills limited to a single bedroom in the former home he had before the war. “I can offer you a good bed, food and ammunition for any gun you can make up, or find. And a set of Power Armor, if you want it.”

Piers looked better, his skin flushed with healthy blood flow and Daniel breathed out. He hadn’t had hardly any time to just sit down and breathe after waking up. It was nice to just sit there for once. Almost a relief in itself.

“It is. ‘Fraid that’s what it’s come down to around here anymore. Seems nobody wants peace and quiet. Everyone’s so busy playing with guns over each other’s stuff.” Daniel sighed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Doesn’t hurt to explore, I love Boston, lived here my whole life because nowhere is quite like here.” he said, a little fondness in his tone. “I do. Feels like I never get to sit down anymore. And I’m really getting too old for this gallivanting around.” Daniel laughed.

“Yeah, I’ll probably end up accidentally calling you sir anyway. It just kind of slips out unintentionally. Lifelong habit…” Unfortunately, and maybe a little embarrassingly, Piers wasn’t even joking. It was something automatic for him, ingrained throughout his life, from the lessons on manners from his mother in childhood, to the protocol of military life in adulthood.

“We could have used an outfit like the Minutemen out west. Maybe, if I ever go back, I’ll enlist first and volunteer to spread the good word.” The NCR had, for the most part, struck Piers as a joke. Individually, there were some effective soldiers, but the organisation as a a whole was pretty poor. “Being friends with the general is sure to have some perks too, right?”

The small rest he’d taken had done Piers the world of good. The radaways he’d washed down with water were doing their job and he’d certainly caught his breath. Still, he wasn’t keen to immediately get back out there. It was actually pleasant to sit and talk for a while. Stretching out his legs in front of him, he sat back and sighed.

“Peace and quiet is hard to come by these days. Seems like I’m always fighting for something these days, when actually, all I want to do is a bit of sightseeing. Never been to the Commonwealth before,” Piers said, a hint of an amused smile curling at his lips. “I’m kidding, obviously, this is no time for gadding about, having fun, but you know… It would be nice to just, you know, chill for a bit. You must feel that too, being a general, and all.”

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

Daniel offered a small smile to Miles before he nodded. It was cute, seeing the young man so smiley and happy. “I’m sure you’ll do just fine.” he said, nodding firmly. Picking up his Nuka Cola, the survivor shifted. “Want to get cleaned up?” Daniel asked softly.

Having someone compliment him got the youth to duck his head, a little embarrassed. Hell, if he was a dog then his tail would be wagging furiously. “I’ll do my best to make you proud sir,” he said as he glanced up with a half smile on his lips. Miles had been known to be dependent, but after it just being him and his brother to now himself, well Miles couldn’t help cling to this new father figure.

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

Around the Commonwealth: Bunker Hill

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

                 “It’s a good feeling, but it frightens me all the same.                              Having a bond with someone then losing them…                                                         it changes you.”

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

Bounces around to Danse.

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

I miss chocolate.

And animals that don’t try to kill you. My companions have this nasty habit of trying to kill the ones that do me no harm.

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

I am going to fight Paladin Danse.

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

“They’re deceptive, that’s for certain.” Daniel mused. The  ghouls certainly didn’t look like much, but they definitely were something else. They were strong, vicious in their attacks and definitely a worthy opponent. “I always find a bat works really well on them too. A good, proper swing to their head takes them down easily. But I’ll have to try your method one day as well.”

It seemed absurd how many of them there were. It was if they never stopped coming. They just kept going. It was like the energizer bunny or something. The whole concept was absolutely incredible to Daniel, incredible in the fact that there just never seemed to be an end to them.

“Oh no, goodness no. Sir is way too formal. Daniel is just fine, trust me.” the survivor laughed, shaking his head as he looked to the other. “They’re a good bunch of people, I was more than willing to work with them, I always will be.” He gazed around the area before nodding. “Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind. And the same goes for if you ever need help. I’m more than willing to do anything to try and help out.”

“You wouldn’t think it to look at them, with how scrawny they are.” But Piers knew better than to judge on appearances. He’d dealt with similar creatures before, deceptively strong and incredibly deadly. “Luckily, they go down easily. Comparatively speaking, anyway. Go for the legs first, that’s the trick to it. Swipe the legs, render them incapable of moving and then go in for the kill. But yeah, tedious is the right word, man.”

That was the problem with ghouls - they were, unfortunately, plentiful. It seemed that no sooner had you wiped out a bunch than another wave appeared on the scene, crawling out of every nook and cranny. Literally! Those skinny bodies were useful for something, it seemed.

“General? I guess I ought to be calling you sir, then. The Minutemen seem to be a pretty straight-up bunch of guys, and from what I’ve seen around here, that’s exactly what the Commonwealth needs. I’m certainly grateful for your help and if there ever comes a time when I can repay you, I will. Without hesitation.”

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

“Of that I have no doubt. But I don’t really want you to have to drag me around either. The grounds aren’t really neat enough for that. I’d like not to be drug all across the Commonwealth.” Daniel laughed, shaking his head. “To be truthful, I do spend what I have to help out the settlements. I don’t really need material things. So the caps are often useless.”

“I am stronger then I look that is for sure, but draggin’ your ass to the closest town might be more of a hassle then I actually want to be part of, that is for damn sure.” She mused with a grin before rolling her eyes. “Oh listen to mister rich guy over here.” There was a playful tone in her voice though when she said it. “Pride before fall.”

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

My honest, main problem with the Brotherhood is the fact that they’ve forgotten the mission they initially set out with. They’re waging war with propaganda and brainwashing through fear-mongering.

It’s in poor taste.

Especially because wars used to be fought by a group of people who all believed in something. Or a group of people that wanted to make things better and they were willing to band together and risk their lives to right wrongs.

And it seems a lot of people have forgotten that.

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

“That’s cruel. Falling down isn’t exactly top on my list of things to do.” he laughed before shrugging. “Probably, I’m sure you’re strong, but I’m a pretty heavy dude.” Daniel grinned before he shrugged. “I have more than enough caps trust me. I almost never use them.” he shrugged before tipping his chin up. “Of course it was.”

“Aww man, now I kind of want to see that happen.” Viper pretended to curse before letting out another laugh. “Oh well, better this way so I don’t have to carry you to the town.” She finally concluded. “Eh, I can probably find more to steal from raiders, save your caps.” She mused, looking him over with a raised eyebrow before snorting. “Oh so this was just a one time thing eh?”

[prewarsurvivor-blog]

“It probably would have happened just like that.” Daniel snorted, laughing as he gestured vaguely with his bat. He shrugged then, shifting to cover the wound again before nodding. “Well I’ll get you some when we’re in town.” he laughed, snorting good naturedly before shaking his head. “I’m usually so good at not getting hurt.”

“I think it would have been fun to see you try and swing that bat and just fall flat on your face.” Viper said with a small laugh, giving a slight nod towards it as well to agree on that he was not by himself now. “Well I could not afford anything, so one had to do. And in the end, it was not me who had to use it.” She pointed out with a sing song voice.