To Primm

The loud mechanical wheels of the vault’s main blast door churn slowly to move the great vault door open. It shuttered as it moved after an age of lying dormant. A rush of dusty air filled the chamber where Madeline and her companions stand.

Slowly the group of vault dwellers headed out through a long mountain passageway, their way lit by hand held lamps and flashlights. The group moved round a bend and for the first time Madeline and the group face something they have never seen before—sunlight. It filled the cave and nearly blinds them as they round the bend fully to be met with a burst of hot desert air and searing sun. They had to shade their eyes but despite its power, it is a marvelous and beautiful thing to behold. The group paused almost in unison as they enjoyed the profound moment.

Their first objective was to head eastward to the town of Primm, it was assumed that little would be left of the post-nuclear world but even as they walked they could see plants and insects amid the arid terrain. The adventurers were clad in their bright blue vault suits.

After a bit of hard trekking they formed a small camp in a secluded area enclosed by large rocks. Having some benefits of technology they do not have to use a fire to warm their old military rations. However, the evening was strangely cold after the blistering heat. Around their hastily created camp area of two tents the travelers struck up small talk.

“Tell me Miss Blackwater” Dr. Giles chidingly refused to use his own rank when speaking with Madeline--a perspective doctor “do you suspect that animal life in these parts will have changed drastically from latent radiation?”

Madeline noticed the slight but carried the conversation on anyway.

“We have had evidence of such mutations before in the vault, the infestation of Rad roaches we had a while back is a precedent. Though considering how much radiation there probably was after the bombs fell—I doubt many things could live long enough to mutate.”

“I am just surprised the plants have survived.” Seth piped in “Plant life is amazingly resilient.”

“Enough chit-chat” Captain Ward ended the conversation with a huff “We have a long walk tomorrow. I will take the first watch. You all get some shut eye.”