Fallout 3: A Wanderer's Journey

I Don't Own Any Of The Fallout Games, All Rights Go To Bethesda

A/N: Hello and welcome to Fallout 3: A Wanderer's Journey! This is a reboot of sorts, to a planned Fanfiction that never made it off the runway. I hope everyone understands what I mean by that. But anyway, after beginning to play the Broken Steel add on to Fallout 3, I wanted to come back and write a different version of the planned story. And this story is the final product. The story is going to follow my character, John's journey throughout Fallout 3, all the way from the Escape! quest and up to Take It Back! quest. And even after that, going into the Broken Steel DLC. I am going to be replaying through the entire game. Although, I'm not writing a walkthrough, if that's what you are thinking. I'll be adding custom dialogue (dialogue that the character doesn't say in the actual game), events that don't happen in the actual game and stuff like that. So, I hope you enjoy the first chapter!

Chapter 1: Evicted

The Capital Wasteland

Just Outside of Vault 101

My name is John. And I was born in Vault 101. Well, at least I thought. You may be curious about what I mean with this story, or you just don't fucking care. It's up to you. Either way, this is my story. I left Vault 101 a few months ago and started my own life on the outside, in the remains of the surrounding area, dubbed as "The Capital Wasteland". I had heard a distress message via the radio on my Pip-Boy. It had come from the Vault 101 distress channel and it was from my childhood friend Amata, telling me that I had to stop searching for my father and come help her stop her father from sending Vault 101 into madness. So, I went back and from what I ended up learning from the inhabitants, there were rebels, who wanted to leave the Vault and the Overseer and his security wanted them to stay in the Vault. I ended up talking the Overseer into allowing them to open the Vault, as one day, they wouldn't have the supplies to survive in the Vault anymore. They needed to be able to explore the Wasteland.

So, then the Overseer stepped down and appointed Amata to the new Overseer. So what happened after that? And where am I now? I'm sitting outside of Vault 101, with a little campfire going. I think you can put two and two together. I was kicked out. Exiled. And good riddance! I was built for the Wasteland, not a Vault! I think it was made clear that I wasn't going to be able to ever come back. And to be honest with you, it kind of sucked. There were people there I liked! I had friends! Mr. Brauch, Amata, Susie Mack, Old Lady Palmer and even Butch Deloria. Well, even though Butch was kind of a hot head, deep down, I still considered him to be my friend. If you are at all interested in my story, I won't lie to you. You want to it from the beginning, don't you? Well, it's your lucky day. So, sit back and relax, because I have a story to tell you. This is the story of why I had to leave in the first place.

Nine Years Earlier...

Vault 101 Diner

This all started about nine years ago. It was the day of my tenth birthday party and one of the only early events I remembered about my life in the Vault. My father James and I lived in the Vault our whole lives with my mother. Well, at least my father and mother lived in the Vault. My mother died in childbirth. I never knew her. Like I said, it was my tenth birthday party...

I walked into the diner, to find that it was completely dark. "What?" I asked myself. "Is this somekind of joke?" Just then, the lights came on and I heard party horns going off, along with people shouting: "Surprise!" As my eyes adjusted, I could see that my dad was in the room, along with Amata and her dad, the Overseer and pretty much everyone else I knew were there, too. "You turned on the lights too fast! You blinded the poor kid!" Security Officer Gomez replied. No. Not blinded. Just, well, you know. Surprised. "Happy Birthday!" everyone in the room exclaimed. "Happy birthday, Pal! I can't believe you're already ten. I'm so proud of you!" Dad said. "If only your mother-" Before he could continue speaking, the Overseer walked up to us and interrupted. "Congratulations, young man. I don't have to tell you how special this day is, do I? Down here in Vault 101, when you turn ten, well, you're ready to take on your first official vault resposibilities. So, here you are." he said, as he took out the wrist watch thing that everyone else in the vault wore.

"As Vault Overseer, I hereby present to you, your very own Pip-Boy 3000. Get used to it. You'll be getting your first work assignment tomorrow." the Overseer said. I nodded, as I put it on my right wrist. He chuckled a little bit, before turning around to go have a seat at one of the booths. "Enjoy your party son. You've earned it." My father said, before walking off as well. "You're only ten once." As my dad walked off, one of the other kids in the Vault, Paul Hannon, walked up to me. "Oh man, you got a Pip-Boy." he said, sounding disappointed. "I wish I was ten." After saying that, Paul walked past me as well. Next, my best friend Amata spoke. "Happy birthday! We really surprised you, didn't we?" she asked. She giggled as she continued. "Your dad was afraid that you were onto us. But I told him not to worry. You're so easy to fool." she said. Oh, really? Is that so? "You didn't fool me. I just pretended not to know." I said, obviously lying. "You're such a liar! Okay, if you're so smart, what did I get you for your birthday?" she asked. I thought about it for a moment.

"Just give me the present already!" I said. "Okay, okay! One last question: who's your favorite barbarian?" she asked. "Grognak." I replied in return. "That's right, Grognak! Issue 14, and with no missing pages!" she said, as she handed the comic book to me. "I found it in a box of my father's old things, can you believe it? Kind of weird to think of him reading comic books. I guess I better let you get back to 'mingling' with your guests. We'll talk later, okay? Happy birthday." She walked off and stood by the counter, after she was done talking with me. "Happy birthday." Old Lady Palmer replied. I looked over at the booth she was sitting and walked over. "Are you having a nice party? Ten years old, my my my. It seems like only yesterday that your daddy came. Goodness, listen to me ramble. You're waiting for your present aren't you?" she asked. "Yes, ma'am." I said. "Such a nice young man you are! Don't ever lose your gift of speaking your mind so directly. We could use more of that down here. Here you go, a nice sweetroll that I baked for you just this morning. And it's all for you. You're the birthday boy, so you don't have to share it today." she said. "Attention everyone, it's time to cut the cake!" Andy, the Mister Handy bot said. "Andy, wait!" Amata exclaimed. I heard the whirring sound of a saw blade, followed by a really grisly sound.

I looked over just in time to see that Andy had completely destroyed the cake with his saw blade. I sighed, as I walked forward. "Nice Pip-Boy!" I heard someone say. I looked to my left, to see Wally Mack sitting across from Butch Deloria. "What is that, one of the 3000-a series? What a piece of junk! I bet you have to wind it up every morning!" Wally finished speaking. I stared at him for a few seconds, before I frowned. "Shut up, jerk." I said. "Hey, happy birthday nose-bleed! Ha ha!" Butch said. I looked over at him. "Oh, so now you're gonna start?" I asked. He and Wally just laughed. Eventually, they stopped laughing. "I'm hungry and that stupid robot destroyed the cake!" Butch said. "He's not stupid! Andy is cool!" I exclaimed. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever, you idiot. Don't ever interrupt me again or I'll give you another black eye." he said, before he got to the point. "Give me that sweetroll you got from Old Lady Palmer." No, it's my birthday. So, why should I give him my sweetroll? "You know what, Butch? No. It's my birthday. So go soak your head. I'm not giving you my sweetroll." I said. He frowned, looking pretty angry. "Oh, yeah?" he asked. "Well, we'll see about that."

As he got up, I heard him say something like: "You're going to pay for this, you little brat." I started to back up, as he ran forward and started to through punches at me. "How do you like that, huh?" he asked, as he punched me in the jaw. Officer Gomez had gotten up and was on him in seconds. "Butch, what do you think you're doing? Leave him alone!" he said. As I rubbed my jaw, Officer Gomez came up to me. "I hope Butch didn't hurt you. You want to tell me what that was all about?" he asked. "He tried to take my sweetroll!" I said. "Why that little brat. I figured it was him that started it. He's been nothing but trouble since the day he was born. You let me handle this and try to stay out of the way." Officer Gomez said. As I listened to Officer Gomez take care of Butch, I turned to talk to my dad. But before I could, Amata came over to me. "What's Butch's problem anyway? I can't believe he tried to start a fight at your own birthday party! What a jerk!" she said. "Your dad is the Overseer. Can't you talk to him about Butch?" I asked.

"Come on. Don't ask me that. You know he would, if I asked. But where would that leave me?" she asked. "It's bad enough being the Overseer's daughter. If everyone knew I ran to daddy everytime I had a problem, nobody would ever talk to me again." I laughed. "I would!" I said. "Well, you're my friend. So you don't count." Amata replied in return. I frowned. "Don't worry, we'll think of some way to get Butch back. I promise. But I'm not getting my father involved." she said. After she was gone again, I turned to my dad. "Are you alright? Is Butch giving you a hard time?" he asked. "He tried to take the sweetroll that Old Lady Palmer gave me!" I complained. "I wish that we didn't have to invite him. But there just aren't very many children that are your age in the Vault. In any case, you'll have to learn to deal with bullies. The world is full of people much worse than Butch, I'm afraid. Don't let him ruin your birthday. Go on, I bet there's someone else waiting to give you a present!" I walked over to Stanley as he began to address me. "How's that Pip-Boy, son? Fit all right and everything?" I thought for a second. "Wally told me that my Pip-Boy was a piece of junk!" I said. "Don't you listen to him. The A series may be heavier than the luxury models, but they were built to last." he said.

"Solid as a vault, they are. And I fixed her up myself. Shouldn't have to open her up for another decade or two!" he said. "Thanks, Stanley." I replied. "Don't mention it. Oh yes, almost forgot. Happy birthday. I know it's not much, but I hope you like it." he said, as he handed me a baseball cap. After that I walked back over to a booth and sat down next to Old Lady Palmer. A minute and an intercom call later, Dad came over to talk to me. "Hey, that was Jonas. He and I have been cooking up a surprise present. Jonas is waiting for you downstairs on the Reactor Level. Go ahead, I don't think anyone'll mind if you slip out for a few minutes." he said. As I walked out of the diner, I ran into Beatrice. "Happy birthday, Dearie! My goodness, I hope I didn't miss the party!" she said. Since I had been annoyed by Wally and Butch pushing me around earlier today. "I'm not five. And I'm not a girl, so please don't call me "dearie"." I replied. "Of course you're not five!" Beatrice said, as she laughed. "You're a big ten-year-old "man" now, aren't you, with your very own Pip-Boy! And you know what I did? Just for the occasion, I wrote you a poem! I hope you like it!" She handed me a piece of paper.

I looked at it and began to read it. Gray walls, impenetrable steel. Suffocation! Condemnation! Little hands groping in subterranean uncertainty. Mommy? Daddy? Am I dead? Nay! Nay! Reborn into purifying fluorescence! A face emerges, strong and male. Father to me? Father to all! Overseeing our lives, our eternities. Harshness of discipline. Harshness of love. Obedience my savior! Larva to pupa, pupa to worker. Buzz, buzz! One with the steel honeycomb. 10 lies within the 101, significant at last. Till gray seeps from walls of wair, to soul. Then, eternal slumber, the sweet sleep of incineration. I finished reading it. Well, that isn't depressing at all. I knew better on how to respond this time. "Um, thank you. I will cherish it always." I said. "Of course. Now run along now, dearie! And enjoy your day!" she said, despite my saying I didn't want to be called dearie. Beatrice walked past me and into the diner. I was about to move forward towards the Reactor Level, when a voice interrupted me. "I really hope you appreciate all the effort Amata put into this party." I turned around, to see the Overseer standing behind me. "She really seems to like you for some reason." he said.

"Of course she likes me! I'm a really charming guy!" I said, as I beamed with pride. The Overseer didn't seem to like that. "Don't presume too much on her friendship, young man! I'm still the Overseer and I'm still in charge of this Vault and everyone in it." With that, he walked off leaving me by myself in the hall. Finally, I came to my senses and ran down the hall and down the next hall, then down the stairs to the Reactor level. As soon as I walked into the room, Jonas walked over to me. "What are you doing down here, young man? I thought kids weren't allowed on the reactor level." he said. I started to panic, but even with Jonas's strict tone of voice, I knew he was just teasing me. "I'm not a kid! I'm ten years old!" I said. Jonas laughed and smiled just a little bit. "You sure are! Pip-Boy and everything, huh? Nice!" he said. "Anyway, if you can wait just one more minute, I think your dad will want to give you the surprise himself." A few seconds later, I turned around to see Dad in the doorway. "Are you ready for your surprise?" he asked. "What kind of surprise?" I asked in return. "The Overseer gave you your Pip-Boy and you're old enough to do some work. So I thought you'd be old enough for this. Your own BB gun! It's a little old and just a bit rusted, but it should work perfectly." he said.

"Jonas found it down here. It was in pretty rough shape. It took us just a little over three months to find the parts and to get it working again. You know how tough it was to find a spring that small? Good thing Butch "misplaced" that switchblade of his!" He chuckled a little bit. "So, what do you think? Want to give it a try?" he asked. "You mean here? We can't shoot a gun in here!" I remarked. "We sure can't, unless we want to the Overseer beating our door down. Don't worry though, Jonas and I found a place. C'mon!" he said. He started walking towards the door on the left wall of the room and I followed him. We went into a room, with what looked like to be a target range in the back. "Well, what do you think? You can come down here and shoot whenever you want!" he said. "Thanks, Dad." I said, with a smile on my face. "You're welcome, Pal. Happy birthday." he said. "Happy birthday, buddy. I hope you have fun with it." Jonas replied, as he walked into the room, right behind Dad. "Thanks, Jonas. This is really cool! And real exciting!" I exclaimed. "Hey, you don't turn ten everyday! Now go on and let me see you shoot something!" he said.

I nodded and turned around and walked over to the range. I pulled out the BB gun and fired at the three targets quickly. I missed all but one of them. "That's okay, John. You'll get better at it. Try aiming down the sight and shooting slower." Dad said. I took his advice and did so. This time, I hit all three targets without missing. I guess all of the commotion disturbed a Radroach, because one crawled into the line of fire. "Careful, a Radroach. Think you can take care of with with your BB gun?" Dad asked. I took aim and shot it in the back, killing it instantly. I turned around and looked at Dad. "Good work! That's one less Radroach to deal with. Let's get a picture together. Capture the moment." he said. I lowered the BB gun as Dad turned to face Jonas. I walked over and stood next to Dad. "Hey, Jonas, get a picture of me and the big game hunter!" Jonas moved closer to us and took out a camera. "Smile!" he said. He took the picture and I was somewhat blinded by the flash. That day I had turned ten. Alas, it was the day my childhood had ended. From there on out, it would be a long, hard, violent and unforgiveable road. Not necessarily in that order.

A/N: So, that's the first chapter! I know it wasn't that exciting, but hey, it's the beginning. What did you expect? I did want to specify that the very first part of this chapter took place after the Trouble on the Homefront Quest. And John (the player) is going to be telling his story up until that point in time. So, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. The next one may be out tomorrow, but I'm not too sure yet. If you enjoyed the first chapter, please favorite and follow the story, a review would even be nice. I'm going to go though, so have a good day and bye!