the story in which Alex Seattle Geer is right for hating enclosed spaces,

[doubletap]

and Neil Park is blamed for his knowledge of vaults.

---

Terminal Entries:

1st Floor, Vault Entry-Room Computer:
- Data Entry 1: Year 20XX, Month XX; There's no escape.
- Holotape Entry 1: Y#4@ SDhig^8705 H98 [data corrupted]; This is hell and I want out of it.

1st Floor, Cafeteria Luncheon:
- Holotape Entry 2: Private Recording; I've had better?

1st Floor, Cafeteria Supply Room:
- Inventory List: Inventory List; A list of food....
- Data Entry 2: Shift Notes; Maybe I should tear the walls down.

1st Floor, Broken Cave:
- Data Entry 3: Preparations; Everything's fine.
- Data Entry 4: Near the End; I'll tell you the truth, but I won't give up my soul.
- Data Entry 5: Finally, the End is at Hand.; This is far enough.

1st Floor, Office:
- Data Entry 6: Vault-Wide Public Service Announcement; Get back to work everyone.
- Data Entry 7: Locked Administrative Reply; You're reaching for straws.

1st Floor, Administrative Secretary's Office:
- Data Entry 8: Drama Hoes; It is sort of funny that people aren't able to lie, though.
- Holotape Entry 3: Bill Self-Log; Byron's access still works everywhere.

Comments

[goodfight]

[The discrepancy makes itself known. Alex goes a step further by pointing it out.]

Huh.

[There is another thing.]

Did Bill misuse our friend's terminal before or after his self-imposed exile into that cave?

[Neil muses aloud.]

[doubletap]

[ Alex stares at the terminal, interested despite himself. It's not often that you see things like this: little abnormalities separated from the Vault standard.

Who is Bill? And what was Byron before he went mad? Someone with admin privileges. Something.

He looks to the locked door, the one they ignored for nearly twelve hours now. ]

No way to tell. Think that means we finally need to keep going.

[goodfight]

[Byron is fast becoming someone worth notice, beyond the evidence already present. Neil wonders then where he might have resided before the cave. If it may be worth chasing after.

Regardless, it is a question for another time. The younger man walks over to the other door, examining the knob and the lock.]

This is a tricky one.

[doubletap]

[ He follows, stopping behind Neil's shoulder. ]

...Seems like things are a little more complicated here than we're used to. It's not going to be all easy.

[ He grimaces at the words, wondering if he had actually wanted to say them. He holds Neil's bag out to him, then slips out his own set of lockpicks to try. ]

[goodfight]

[It is a non-committal sound that Neil offers Alex as the younger individual could not make up his mind. At least regarding the meaning lurking behind the words. He takes the pack wordlessly and watches the Courier do one of the things he does best.

The tricky door is unlocked and opened in about seven minutes. It reveals a narrow hallway that turns to their left.]

We have a decent chance of dying, don't we?

[It is not a statement Neil means to say, but there it is regardless.]

[doubletap]

[ Halfway around the corner, Alex stops. And looks back and laughs perfectly naturally.

He reaches to tossle Neil's hair. ]

Not a chance in the world. Not with the both of us here.

[goodfight]

[The remark is unexpected, so much so that Neil halts in his steps and flushes bright red.

He stares at Alex, his hair sufficiently tousled, not knowing yet on what to say.]

[doubletap]

[ He turns to face Neil, perception extended to its limits in the interim. ]

What's wrong, kid?

[goodfight]

That was, uh.

[Geez, what the hell is this feeling rising in his chest?]

Really nice to hear. Crap.

[A little too nice as embarrassment grows hand-in-hand with the unknown emotion. Flustered, he goes to walk around Alex in an effort to avoid.]

[doubletap]

[ The kid shows himself to be effortlessly adorable, and Alex allows him his escape as they round the corner to reveal a couple of right-hand doors.

Alex smiles to Neil's back. ]

Man, you being open like this is going to keep me hard for days.

[goodfight]

[LSADK OH, LOOK. DOORS. NEIL WILL STAND IN FRONT OF THE NEAREST ONE AND OPEN--

He hits the button again. Slams it again for confirmation. The vault door is, as doors sometimes are, locked.

Ah, well, let Neil carefully pull out his lockpick set and avoid someone's eyes.]

[doubletap]

[ Alex slips behind Neil and leans into him as he works. Allowing Neil to feel the, uh. Truth of Alex's statement. ]

What's wrong, Wanderer?

[goodfight]

[The so-called "truth" causes Neil to break his bobby pin. The broken piece goes flying, ricocheting off a wall and disappearing altogether.

He hastily produces another.]

I'm not used to...it. Reassurance.

[Kind words. Hope. From Alex and most others, if he is to be honest.

The panel's LED shifts from orange to green, and the door opens. Neil goes to step inside the room, still unable to face the Courier.]