Soul of Steel

For a long while Sarah remains quiet, her head bowed slightly as she seems to gather her thoughts for some sort of big reveal. This is only proven to be true as the moment you open your mouth to ask a question Sarah’s attention snaps up to you, her voice coming out with a slow but confident tone, “I’m not certain of the whole story but…this is what my father told me when I was young. This person, what I’m guessing is your ‘Deadman Shinygahmy’ forefather, came from a vault titled 13. This Vault Dweller was weird and kind of awkward at first when he emerged into the wasteland but he got better…much better at talking to people.”

Sarah’s pronunciation of Shinigami causes you to chuckle a bit but you shake it off, listening at the buxom blond haired woman continues her story, “After a while this man learned about how this one entity, something called ‘The Master’ was turning humans into what it called the ‘master race’ and started trying to use these super mutants to take over the wastelands for itself.”

“He was trying to create a perfect race,” you mutter, your surprise causing you to accidentally interrupt Sarah in the middle of her story.

With a solemn nod Sarah continues her tale, “Yes it was. Apparently this ‘Master’ was a scientist from the Pre-War era who wanted the world to be cleansed for the incoming master species or something like that. Whatever the reason, this Vault Dweller stopped him and was the savior of mankind…at least, that is what he should have been.”

“What do you mean?” Free is the one to ask this question, her canine curiosity causing her head to tilt as she speaks, “If someone saves the world aren’t they recognized for it?”

Sadly Sarah shakes her head, a heavy sigh on her breath as she speaks, “Unfortunately no, this Vault Dweller was exiled by his own people for being in the Wasteland for too long…he was **** to live on the land as he had when he first left the vault.”

For a moment silence reigns before you speak again, “The way you say it, it seems like that wasn’t the end of my predecessor.”

With a shake of her head Sarah continues, “No it wasn’t…you see, this Vault Dweller had several followers in the vault and they came after him, setting up a village and becoming some of the first wastelander people not completely effected by the radiation. For a long time this man lived with his wife and…ehem…many mistresses…but eventually his wife died and he left the settlement…that was when he came to the Brotherhood of Steel.”

“What do you…mean mistresses,” surprisingly enough it is Kyokotsu who says this, the small ninja woman staring down a now blushing golden haired Sentinel with a playful stare.

“W-Well…i-it was told to me th-that this Vault Dweller attracted many women in his time…it was not that surprising with his gift of the tongue,” the second those words leave Sarah’s mouth she blushes harder as every chuckles a bit, the unintentional innuendo striking a chord for a moment before it quickly dies down, “B-But that isn’t the point. This Vault Dweller eventually left it all behind after his legal wife died, his sacrifice of his heart leading him to the Brotherhood of Steel and the ‘Chosen One,’ his grandson.”

“Chosen One?” Rose suddenly speaks, her tone one of surprise and confusion, “You never said anything about him Sarah.”

With a heavy sigh Sarah turns to Rose, “I didn’t want to taint your impression of the Vault Dweller…but yes, it was his grandson that stopped the Enclave genocide. The Vault Dweller provided the equipment and the strength while the Chosen One did the full work…at least until the final battle.”

This seems to bring silence to Sarah, your voice gingerly calling out, “Sarah…is everything alright?”

Sarah nods stiffly, her gaze turning to you as she speaks, “Yes…mostly…during the final battle the Vault Dweller, in his age and wisdom, decided to go into battle and…and he fell. He died a most heroic **** in saving the land…but…but at the end of it all, when the Brotherhood of Steel was clearing the wreckage and the debris…the Vault Dweller was revealed to be alive…but only barely.”

“What do you mean?” 101 speaks her mind, her one brilliant amber eye and one ice blue orb staring down at the wounded Sentinel.

“My Great Grandfather was the one to see the Vault Dweller off to the other world,” Sarah replies sadly, “he saw as the Vault Dweller succumb to his wounds and burnt away alongside his urn in a fire of pitch black leaving only this armor, ring, and dog tags behind…but, before he left…the Vault Dweller said something.” Sarah is quiet for a moment, her mind once more thinking deeply before she turns to you, her expressive eyes shining with some unreadable emotion as she speaks, “He said that…one day…one day his successor would return…they would use the spire at the heart of the Dunwich Building…and they would return life to the wasteland…”