Date: October 27th, 2274
The scorching sun beat down on the desolate wasteland, its rays reflecting off the rusted metal structures and rubble that littered the area. Despite the heat, Megaton's Sheriff Lucas Simms stood vigilant, peering out toward Springvale through his binoculars. His face was stern, suspicion gnawing at him. The day before, Springvale had been teeming with raider activity, their shouts and gunfire audible from a distance. Now, the town was eerily silent—too silent.
Simms lowered the binoculars, his brow furrowed. "Something's wrong. There's no way those raiders just vanished without a trace," he muttered to himself.
Turning to his deputy, Simms barked out orders. "I want increased security and vigilance around Megaton. Send word to everyone on duty. Whatever cleared out Springvale, I want to know about it before it reaches our gates."
The deputy nodded quickly and ran off to alert the others. Simms watched the horizon a moment longer, his gut telling him that something big was coming. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something far more dangerous.
Northeast of Megaton – Super-Duper Mart
Across the wasteland, at the Super-Duper Mart, the raider gang that had taken up residence inside was on edge. They had heard rumors of what happened in Springvale—the sudden silence, the lack of bodies, the strange cleanliness of the place. They didn't know who or what was responsible, but they were determined not to be next.
The Mart's leader, Crusher, a hulking brute with a reputation for brutality, stood at the center of the aisles, barking orders. The raiders scurried around, fortifying the entrances and setting up barricades inside the store. The once bustling grocery store had been transformed into a fortress of sorts, with makeshift planks bridging the supermarket shelves to allow easy movement for the raiders patrolling the upper levels.
"Keep your eyes peeled! I don't want anyone sneaking in here without us knowing," Crusher growled, his voice echoing through the empty aisles. "We don't know who's out there, but we're not going out like those fools in Springvale."
A nervous raider named Slick, jittery from too much Psycho, peered through the barricades. "You think it's the Brotherhood or something'? Maybe the Enclave? Whoever it is, they wiped out Springvale without a fight."
Crusher slammed his fist into a nearby crate, causing Slick to jump. "I don't care who it is! We're ready for 'em. We've got enough ammo and supplies to hold out. No one's getting through those doors."
Despite Crusher's bravado, there was an undercurrent of fear among the raiders. The wasteland was dangerous, but the kind of silence that had taken over Springvale wasn't normal. It wasn't just the raiders who were uneasy—the very air around the Super-Duper Mart seemed thick with tension.
Vault 101 – Hidden Lab
Victor sat in the dimly lit lab beneath Vault 101, the faint hum of the quantum computer filling the room.NIM, the AI that controlled all the labs and systems in the hidden section of the vault, had just sent a detailed report. Victor leaned back in his seat, skimming through the latest intel.
"NIM, what's the situation with the raiders and Silver?" Victor asked aloud, though he knew the AI could hear him.
NIM's response was instant. "Most of the raiders and Sara Silver are showing progress toward normal health, though some remain resistant to rehabilitation. Their drug addictions have been treated, but psychological trauma remains. The mutation in the ants and the dog continues to be a point of interest. It appears their evolution is not just a result of radiation, but also a survival mechanism adapted over the years following the Great War."
Victor nodded, deep in thought. The raiders were a mixed bag—some could be useful after rehabilitation, but others were beyond saving. Sara Silver, in particular, was aggressive, but her combat experience might be valuable if she could be reformed. He'd keep the treatment ongoing, but tonight, his focus was elsewhere.
"Let's move forward with the raid on Super-Duper Mart tonight," Victor said, his voice calm and determined. "AZ, prep for assault."
AZ, the AI companion controlling a Mr. Handy robot, hovered nearby, its mechanical arms whirring in anticipation. "Ready for action, sir," it replied in its usual chipper tone.
"NIM, I need a detailed recon of the mart's interior and exterior. Mark all raiders and any security measures in place."
The screens in the lab flickered asNIM fed Victor a 3D map of the Super-Duper Mart, highlighting the positions of every raider inside and out. There were corpses hanging in front of the store as a warning, and two raiders were patrolling the entrance. Inside, more were scattered across the aisles, some hidden among the shelves while others stood guard in front of the pharmacy area.
Satisfied with the intel, Victor armed himself. He strapped on his new dart rifle, perfect for taking down enemies silently, and checked his Pip-Boy. His left hand connected to his stun knuckle, a device he had designed to incapacitate enemies up close without lethal force. Finally, he donned his armor, a sleek, dark set made for stealth and protection, ideal for a night raid.
Super-Duper Mart – Midnight
The night was still as Victor moved silently through the darkness, approaching the Super-Duper Mart. His HUD, projected by neural implant, displayed the positions of the raiders in real time, courtesy ofNIM's advanced recon. Every movement was calculated, every step deliberate. This raid would be like Springvale—quick, efficient, and without a trace.
Victor slipped past the two raiders at the entrance, taking them out with precision darts that dropped them silently to the ground. Inside the Mart, he moved through the shadows, using the shelves as cover. Raiders patrolled the upper levels, but they didn't see him. One by one, Victor neutralized them, his dart rifle whispering death in the silence of the store.
As he approached the pharmacy area, AZ followed behind, tying up the unconscious raiders and clearing the bodies. The entire operation was smooth—just like Springvale.
Crusher, the leader of the raiders, finally realized something was wrong when his men stopped responding. Stepping out of his makeshift office near the pharmacy, he spotted Victor just outside.
"What the hell are you—" Crusher started, but he didn't have time to finish. Victor moved with deadly speed, his stun knuckle striking Crusher in the chest, sending a jolt of electricity through the massive raider's body. Crusher crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
"AZ, secure the building. Make sure everything is cleared out," Victor ordered as he stood over Crusher's body.
"Already on it, sir," AZ replied, its mechanical arms already busy tying up the last of the raiders.
Within minutes, the Super-Duper Mart was cleared. The raiders had been captured, the building had been cleaned out, and any remaining supplies were taken for future use. As Victor walked out into the cool night air, he glanced back at the now-silent Mart. Just like Springvale, it had been handled with precision.
"NIM, mission complete. Begin processing the raiders when I return," Victor said through his Pip-Boy as he disappeared into the shadows.
Springvale had been the start. Now, the wasteland would soon learn that there was a new player in town—one who moved in silence, and struck without mercy.