"Brother? Is that you?" Zoe said, emerging from the bedroom. She looked bathed and dressed in a new jumpsuit.
"Yeah. I'm back." He said, holding the things he had obtained from his first trip in the vault.
"Where were you? Is that a gun?" Zoe paused before crossing her arms thoughtfully. "Hmm, good job finding that. Anyway, let's have breakfast."
"Sure, let me make something quickly," Animus said.
"No need. I found the pantry had some ingredients and made pancakes. Wash your hands and let's eat." She said with a smile.
"Alright." Animus smiled.
He first walked to the master bedroom and stored the boxes with empty casings at the bottom of his closet. He loaded the Glock with the bullets from the new box, clicked its safety on, and kept it close. He then moved to the bathroom, flushed his paper clips down the toilet, washed his hands and face sluggishly, and sat down with his sister. He placed the gun on the table. They began eating in peace. The pancakes were delicious, tasting great despite one's expectations in such circumstances. Zoe peppered Animus with questions about where he had been, which he graciously answered.
"Ooo~" She said, before wagging her finger at him. "Brother dearest, thou shalt not abandon thy sister when adventure calls. We are a duo of chaos and joy. Next time, either let me tag along or tell me where you are going, at least."
"Of course, dearest sister." Animus chuckled.
"I will make a plan for myself too. I need to get ready for the outside world." Zoe said with a nod.
'I wonder how her stats look like? Regardless, I am just happy that Vault-Tec made a decent vault for us, despite their dark experiments.' Animus thought.
A knock on the door alerted the duo. It was followed by the sound of the doors opening.
Animus frowned.
'I am locking that immediately.' He decided and got up.
Zoe lifted her eyebrow but chose to do nothing. She was stuffing her face with pancakes like a chipmunk.
"You can handle the door, Bro." She said while chewing before gulping slowly.
The door opened to reveal an eerily smiling Rachel flanked by Beatrice and another staff member with a flower pin in her hair. Animus tensed.
Rachel was carrying the iconic Vault-Tec Tranquilizer Gun. It had a silver and blue retro-futuristic aesthetic. She was leisurely carrying it in her right hand. But what was worse... was that Beatrice and the staff members were carrying M4 automatic rifles.
Zoe's fork dropped on the table.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Rachel lilted, her voice casual. "Eating breakfast after raiding the armory? Looks like you thought we wouldn't find out."
Beatrice and the other staff member flanked the door, blocking off escape.
"What is the meaning of this?" Animus asked, frowning.
Zoe got up from the chair and stood beside Animus.
'Fuck. I might have more firearms experience, but the gun isn't in my hands. That was careless of me. My agility is too slow to outrun them or protect Zoe. I need a solution!' Animus thought hard.
He shifted slightly, stepping forward to cover Zoe.
"Oh, you already know what is up, Citizen Animus Spero. You entered the vault's armory, broke the locks, burned through two boxes of ammunition, and left with a Glock 17 and a box of 9mm Parabellum. Do you have anything to say in your defense?" Rachel chuckled.
"I admit to entering the armory. However, your locks were malfunctioning. I fiddled with them a little and they fell off on their own." Animus shrugged.
Beatrice boggled at him.
Rachel laughed, her sound dead. "You think I would believe that? How absurd."
"It is true." Animus crossed his arms. "How do you think I managed to open the armory?"
"You broke in," The staff member with the flower pin accused.
"No. You have profiles on every Vault Citizen, no? Check mine. I do not possess any lock picking or thievery experience. I have no criminal record." Animus said, narrowing his eyes.
"Patsy." Rachel said and tilted her head to the staff member with the flower pin.
"On it, Miss Rachel." The staff member, named Patsy, immediately tapped her Pip-Boy repeatedly, pulling up multiple screens on the small display.
A crowd formed outside. People were rapidly murmuring. Animus kept his cool.
Patsy's eyes widened in surprise.
"He's...speaking the truth," She muttered in shock.
"Of course he is!" Zoe yelled.
"Surely you wouldn't question your own company's background screening processes while selling vault tickets, right?" Animus sneered.
"You may have learned lockpicking in secret. We don't know for sure. Moreover, you have stolen a gun and ammunition." Rachel said, her smile not leaving her face.
"I have not." Animus said harshly, his voice rising an octave. "You confiscated our clothes, our bags, our belongings. That was not in Vault-Tec's flyers. You've already breached your contract with us."
The crowd outside murmured louder. A few voices agreed, but the majority remained unsure.
"We have an armory?" Someone asked.
"A guy stole a gun?" A girl asked.
"That's dangerous..." Another whispered in anxiety.
"But he's right. They took all our belongings. It feels unsafe," A bolder one disagreed.
Hearing the crowd outside, Rachel took action.
"It is all for your safety," Rachel said, her voice rising an octave to match mine and quell the crowd. "You'll receive everything you will ever need here. Your suit is durable and protects you from radiation. You have food, water, and shelter. Your belongings will be systematically screened and stored. If deemed harmless, you may receive some of your mementos back."
The crowd stirred in hope, leaning towards Rachel.
"The act of stealing a gun is dangerous to the vault. You may threaten the citizens with it." Beatrice added, holding her M4 close.
"Yeah, she's right," Someone outside said.
"Yeah! Why did you steal a gun?" Someone shouted.
"Hey!" Zoe shouted back. "Mind your own business!"
"I have exercised my right to the Second Amendment of the Constitution of America." Animus declared, quelling the voices. "I am an adult with the legal right to carry my gun, and I also possess a permit for concealed carry as per our state's law.
"Tell me, Overseer. Are you above the law?" Animus stared at Rachel.
"No. Nobody is above the law." Rachel said, her voice hesitant. "But you could have gone through the proper procedures to obtain the weapon."
"Oh, but you were the one who broke the contract and confiscated my belongings first. I have things there. Maybe one gun, too." Animus said, before staring at Beatrice. He knew she was gullible. "Tell me, Beatrice. Does my gun qualify to be returned?"
Rachel whipped around to look at Beatrice. She was too late.
"N-No..." Beatrice muttered, caving under Animus' pressure.
"Hah! See? Did you all hear it? They are holding our things back! Despite our federal laws and even our state's specific laws saying an adult can carry a gun!" Animus shouted to the crowd outside.
The crowd rose in an uproar.
"What?! That's illegal!" A woman shouted.
"This is unfair!" Another added.
Zoe grinned at how the crowd turned sides.
"But we don't need guns here!" Beatrice said desperately.
Rachel glared at Beatrice.
She turned to face Animus, gritting her teeth.
"Silence!" She said, raising her voice.
The crowd slowed.
"You are to be brought under questioning for your actions, Animus Spero. Regardless of your intentions, you did break in the vault's armory. For that crime, recognized by law as illegal entry and weapons theft, you are coming with us." Rachel declared, staring hard at Animus while trying to maintain her professional composure.
"And what if I say no?" Animus shot back and crossed his arms.
"Then we will take you in by force." Rachel said without emotion.
She raised her tranquilizer gun.
Animus' eyes widened.
'In front of the whole crowd? She's insane!' He thought, trying to turn.
The sound of cutlery being shoved echoed.
Zoe immediately grabbed Animus' Glock, clicked the safety off, and raised it at Rachel.
"You touch him and I'll blow your brains out. Put the gun down. Now." She said, raising her gun at Rachel's head.
The crowd gasped.
'Damn. I love my little sister.' Animus thought, trying to fight off a smile but failing.
Beatrice and Patsy raised their M4 rifles at Zoe.
Animus bravely stood his ground and covered Zoe enough that she wouldn't take the brunt of the shots, if they were fired.
"ARE YOU SEEING THIS, EVERYONE?" Animus shouted at the top of his voice.
Rachel gritted her teeth harshly.
"The Overseer brought automatic rifles for questioning, and she dares to shoot me if I don't comply! Animus said, pointing his finger at Rachel.
The crowd whispered harshly.
"This is crazy. What is the overseer doing?" A girl asked.
"That guy has a point," Another added.
"Are we going to be treated the same as that guy? I say we protest!" The same bold woman from earlier said.
"No!" Rachel turned back to address the crowd. "You will all be given lawful access to the armory through proper channels, but not like this! He broke in unlawfully!"
"I have simply done what is necessary to protect myself. Right now, you are standing inside my house with guns pointed at me. As per the Castle Doctrine, when faced with lethal force in our own home, deadly self-defense is justified. My sister will shoot you if you don't point those guns down." Animus said, smiling coldly at Rachel.
"Damn right." Zoe spat, glaring at Rachel.
The smile was completely gone from Rachel's face. She stared emptily at Animus.
"Fine." Rachel said and lowered her gun.
"But, Miss Rachel! This sets a dangerous precedent!" Patsy protested.
"Quiet." Rachel said, her voice low. "We will not hurt a Vault Citizen for simply securing a weapon to replace ones taken from him during the induction. Lower your guns."
Reluctant, Beatrice and Patsy lowered their rifles.
Animus scoffed at them.
Zoe didn't lower her gun yet.
"Now, if you will. Kindly leave my house." Animus said, glaring at the intruders.
"You heard my brother. Get the fuck out." Zoe said, her aim on Rachel's head even now.
Without a word, Rachel turned. She walked out. Beatrice and Patsy turned too walk behind her.
Rachel faced the crowd.
"I apologize for the commotion, everyone." Rachel said, addressing the crowd with a practiced smile. "Mister Spero and I had a disagreement on the process of acquiring self-defense measures. I assure you, such an incident will not happen again. You may all acquire and use firearms in the armory. I will be stationing a staff member round the clock there."
Animus narrowed his eyes.
'That last statement was a warning to me. Getting more weapons outside the armory won't be easy. But I can continue raising my skills and practicing there.' Animus thought.
Rachel turned back to look at Animus.
"I hope you have a pleasant stay at Vault 69, Mister Spero." She smiled, her features vacuous.
Zoe flipped the bird.
Animus walked to her and pressed the button to lower the unit's doors. It shuttered down, Rachel staring all the while it did.
He sighed. He shuddered in relief.
Zoe immediately tackled him into a hug. Animus hugged her tightly.
"Bro, we need a plan. That woman is crazy." Zoe said, looking up at him.
"Yeah, Zo. We are not safe here." Animus said, looking back at her.
Then, he stared ahead for a second.
"That Rachel... She is swaying the crowd in her favor even now. She will most likely never repeat such an action in public. Do not approach her alone, Zo. There is no telling what she might do." Animus looked back at Zoe and warned.
"Of course not." Zoe scoffed.
"Good." He smiled and hugged her tighter.
'I need to become stronger. And...
'I need my own faction here.' Animus thought.
**
After the crowd parted slowly, Rachel walked briskly to her office. Beatrice and Patsy followed her quietly.
Once they entered, Rachel walked to her desk. It was a large semicircular wood desk. It had a computer, keyboard, mouse, reports, and papers scattered on it. In a corner, a pretty vase with flowers lay on it. She picked it up and smashed it on the ground.
Rachel screamed.
Beatrice and Patsy flinched.
She heaved in rage.
"You." Rachel said, turning to glare at Beatrice. "Give me one reason I should not throw you outside the vault and replace you with one of the beggars asking to be let in."
Beatrice fell to her knees, dropping her rifle.
"Please, Miss Rachel! Forgive me! I-I made a mistake. I will never do it again! Give me one last chance. Please!" She begged.
"Miss Rachel, Beatrice is valued for her skills. None of the people outside the vault would have her loyalty to Vault-Tec or match her specific skill set. Please reconsider." Patsy said, stepping in for her colleague.
Rachel stared at Patsy. Patsy lowered her head.
"Fine," Rachel muttered, her voice icy. "But make another mistake and I will throw you outside the vault without clothes, food, or weapons. I will watch as the irradiated fools outside vent their frustrations on your body."
Beatrice trembled and lowered her head. Tears dripped down her cheeks.
Rachel turned to Patsy.
"I do not want today's mistakes to repeat. Assign a guard to the armory as well. I want it guarded around the clock," She said.
Patsy nodded. "Right away, Madam Overseer. And what about the weapon acquisition requests, should they come?"
"Reject them. Make up reasons every time," Rachel answered coldly. "I want the subjects to be unarmed and weak."
"Got it," Patsy nodded again before asking a question. "What about Animus Spero?"
"Let him have a gun. Arm every staff member with a tranquilizer. The moment he slightly slips up, shows the minutest aggression, or even dares to threaten someone – shoot him." Rachel said, glaring hatefully at the mention of Animus.
"Affirmative, Madam. I will relay the instructions to all staff members in all levels." Patsy said and began tapping her Pip-Boy to relay the messages.
Rachel turned and sat down on her plush leather chair. She grabbed a water bottle and poured water for herself. She drank slowly.
Beatrice cried softly on the floor.
"Get up." Rachel said, staring at Beatrice.
Sobbing, Beatrice slowly got up. She picked her rifle and stood at attention.
Rachel ignored her. Patsy was done messaging in the meantime.
"Done, Miss Rachel," Patsy announced.
"Good." Rachel praised, before lowering her voice. "I do not want the citizens of the vault to even think about supporting Animus again. Find a subject. Convert them to our side. It is time we increase our numbers."
Patsy nodded dutifully. "Right away, madam. Do you have anyone in mind, or should I scour the profiles of all citizens first?"
"I remember reading about several interesting subjects in the vault." Rachel hummed.
"Y-Yes." Beatrice spoke up. "We have the Agrabah Enterprise heiresses and even the young CEO of Ice Corp with us."
"No. The Agrabah heiresses lack the mindset I require, and the Ice Corp CEO is too difficult to control. But we have one perfect subject for this role." Rachel grinned.
She tapped on her computer for a few seconds. She beckoned Beatrice and Patsy to look.
The two hesitantly walked to Rachel's side. A pixelated image of a youthful woman with beautiful features, emerald eyes, and red hair reflected back at them. She had a deceptively serene look on her face.
"Contact her. She will be our stepping stone to controlling the vault citizens from the inside." Rachel said, her fingers caressing the screen.
Below the girl's face, her name was written. Rachel read it out.
"Her name is...
"Malty Melromarc."