Get Some Sleep.

Madeline knows its going to be a long day.

The next day the travel to Primm went fast. Madeline halfway expected Ward to wake her in the night, but the journey was still new and fresh. He was still in Captain mode.

Along the way while scanning the horizon nearly getting lost in its vastness Madeline barely noticed when Captain Ward commanded the group to halt using hand signals.

They all scattered for cover. Captain Ward was using his binoculars and scanning the remains of what could only have been Primm.

“What the hell!?” He ejaculated with a spit.

“What is it Ward?” Dr. Giles demanded.

“Look for yourself.” He hands the engineer the binos.

“That can’t be right.” Dr. Giles exclaims, “could the Overseer have been so wrong all along? Even he isn’t that stupid.”

Madeline and Seth are both stupefied and Ward senses their unannounced query.

“There are a bunch of soldiers down there and a damned flag. Looks like the Overseer was wrong about the location of OUR fucking vault—it’s a California flag down there.” Ward curses.

Madeline takes the binos from Dr. Giles without asking and peers out toward Primm. Ward is right—there are soldiers of some sort and a California flag. But there is something wrong about it.

“Wait—it’s not a California flag.” She notes.

“Of course it its—didn’t you learn anything in the vault school room? Jesus—and you are gonna be the vault’s doctor!?”

“The California flag does not have a mutated bear on it. This one has a bear with two heads.” Madeline chides.

“Give me those.” Ward snatches the binos.

“Well I’ll be damned.” He turns to Madeline and laughs “you are right.”

“Well what the hell does that mean?” Dr. Giles interrupts “Vault 69 is supposed to be in Nevada. Did you get us lost Ward?”

“We aren’t lost—and this has to be Nevada. For fucks’ sake.” He lets out a string of curses let me look again. “Now that there is a steady breeze I see something else….says New….California…Republic.” he turns to the group. “Maybe civilization survived after all. This New California Republic must control part of Nevada. We best be careful.”

“Remember—we aren’t from a vault—we are from west of here on a small farm in a valley if anyone asks.” He shoulders his M1 Garand and leads the travelers forward.