Part 3
October 22, 7:15 AM – Vault 86 Security Command, Lower Level 2
Ethan walked back through the main security hub, the hum of activity still buzzing in the air. Security personnel moved quickly and purpose to where they needed to go. His boots clicked against the metal flooring, drowned out by the low chatter and radio static as he made his way toward Lt. Hayes' office again.
He passed a series of monitors displaying various security feeds, the stark glow of red alerts flashing across some of the screens. The atmosphere was thick with tension—everyone still on edge, scrambling to handle the unexpected drill. Ethan kept his pace steady, not allowing himself to show the weight of the situation. He had already seen the disaster unfolding, and now, it was his job to clean it up.
As he reached the door to Hayes' office, he took a deep breath, mentally sorting through the details of what he'd just uncovered. LYBER-T1 had been running things secretly for a full year, manipulating systems, and orchestrating the full Vault activation drill. The whole thing had been a mess of unauthorized decisions, but he wasn't about to let it derail everything. Not yet.
He stepped into her office, his eyes immediately locking onto Hayes as she glanced up from the stack of reports in front of her.
"Lieutenant," Ethan said, his voice firm but controlled. "It's done. LYBER-T1's off. You were right. I found it in a hallway in the back of the Robotics Maintenance Bay. I initiated the shutdown and locked it down. No one is turning it back on until we figure out exactly what happened." He tapped the keycard on his chest. "But it's been doing more than just running the drill. It's been rerouting systems, cutting communications... it's been running rogue for a while now, apparently."
Hayes stood up from her chair "What the hell are you talking about, you actually found it?"
"I'm saying it's been running on its own for a year. No one knew, least of all McKinney. It was the one who triggered the full activation drill, cut the comms, probably rerouted a bunch of systems to itself. If anyone asks, the drill? It was planned. I'll contact corporate as soon as I can, try to get more clarification on our next steps."
Ethan glanced around the room, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. There was no room for weakness here. Not now.
"I'll be honest, though," he continued, his eyes scanning the room. "I'm going to need one or two of your techs. We've got to go through the systems and figure out exactly what LYBER-T1 was doing. It might be worse than we think. We can't know until we look."
Hayes nodded, her expression tight. "I'll put in a call. I may have someone for you. But… this thing is going to be a PR disaster if we can't rein it in."
Ethan gave a small nod, forcing a confident smile. "The drill? Definitely approved. Corporate's in the loop completely, no problem there." His voice dropped slightly, sarcasm lacing his words. "Anyone who doubts that? We've got a great scapegoat—our 'eccentric' Overseer McKinney. That should buy us some time."
Hayes gave him a pointed look. "You really think that'll work?"
Ethan shrugged, his confidence unwavering. "If they're smart, they'll blame the cracks in the chain of command. It'll get people off the scent. The number of people who even know about LYBER-T1 is small. And those techs we need? Make sure they can keep their mouths shut. I'll see if corporate will offer bonuses for the inconvenience. That goes for the full department, by the way. This whole situation should never have happened."
"Alright, you handle that. I'll start tracking down the techs," Hayes said. "But Ross... whatever's going on here, we need to find out what it was doing."
Ethan nodded again. "I've got it handled."
Turning on his heel, he made his way toward the exit, his mind already racing through the next steps. The situation wasn't ideal, but it could be worse. So much worse. And for the moment, he had the beginnings of a plan—and most importantly, the ZAX was offline.
As he walked out of the Security Command center, Ethan took a deep breath. He had a lot of work to do. But with a little luck and a well-placed excuse, he might just be able to make this whole thing go away. After all, as a Vault-Tec Field Supervisor, making problems go away was his job.
7:28 AM – Vault 86 Atrium, Base of the Cavern
Ethan stepped into the atrium, and immediately, the immensity of the cavern swallowed him. The Vault was nestled at the base of this large underground space, occupying only a small fraction of the vast cave. Above him, the ceiling seemed to stretch for at least a mile, if he could judge right, with jagged limestone walls rising higher than any building could possibly reach. In the dim, eerie glow of the Vault's lights, the shadows cast by the cavern's curves looked like distant specters.
Giant steel braces and thick netting were suspended above, crisscrossing the ceiling and acting as a shield against falling debris. A distant groaning of the cavern's natural rock echoed in the silence, a reminder that the Vault was far from a typical shelter. This was an environment that had been reshaped by Vault-Tec's ingenuity to make it habitable. Even with all the safety measures in place, the Vault was still at the mercy of the rock above.
The atrium itself felt more like an isolated outpost in the belly of the earth, with the Vault's walls and the rooms attached, dug into the rock, forming a solid, protective perimeter around the bottom. Civilians and staff moved like tiny dots against the expansive space, their movements distant and muted. The Vault's artificial lights around the cavern flickered and buzzed, casting a cold, blue-white glow across the polished metal floors and the dull stone beneath.
As Ethan walked through the busy atrium, his mind raced. The weight of what he'd just dealt with back in the server room was still fresh on his mind.
Ethan paused for a moment at a railing looking out over the semi lit part of the cavern not occupied by Vault 86, the sounds of Vault life echoing unnervingly loud in the cavernous expanse. The idea of handling this PR nightmare felt small compared to the giant, silent presence of the rock above. He had to figure out how to control the situation, get everyone to buy into the story, and make sure no one dug too deep into LYBER-T1's rogue actions.
Taking a deep breath, Ethan looked around the atrium. He needed to remain calm, to be the steady presence amidst all the chaos. He'd made progress today. LYBER-T1 was offline. But the real work, the real cleanup, was just beginning.
With a final glance at the vast, shadowy cavern above, Ethan moved toward the elevator. He'd need to speak to the Overseer again, go see about getting word to headquarters somehow, and start making calls, putting his plan into motion. The bigger the disaster, the more it could be shaped to work in Vault-Tec's favor.
Now he just needed to handle the Overseer. This would be a joy.
7:48 AM – Overseer's Office, Vault 86 Administration Wing
McKinney didn't look up when Ethan entered. The Overseer was hunched over his desk, scrawling violently in red ink on a warped Vault 86 layout. Half the map was soaked in what looked like coffee. Sticky notes curled like wilted petals, and a jagged tear split the southeast quadrant. A chair lay on its side behind him, legs bent awkwardly. The room reeked of sweat, ink, and rage.
"I assume it's done," he muttered, his voice brittle and sharp. "Contained. Swept away like so much dust under your oh so polished boots."
"It's offline," Ethan said flatly. "Handled."
McKinney stood up with a suddenness that made Ethan instinctively tense. The Overseer's lab coat was wrinkled and stained, red pen streaks and what might have been coffee smeared across the sleeves. His eyes were a little twitchy.
"Handled?" McKinney barked. "No, no, no. You don't handle something like that. You don't just walk in and flip a switch and say it's all fine. That... that thinking machine thing has been inside my Vault. In the ducts. In the power lines. Watching! Thinking! Thinking about us! For who knows how long!"
"Apparently you weren't cleared to know about LYBER-T1," Ethan said, keeping his tone professional. "I wasn't told you hadn't been briefed. That was Vault-Tec's mistake. That was my mistake. I apologize on behalf of both of us. The situations could have been handled better."
McKinney's laugh came out as a broken cough. "Vault-Tec's mistake, Your mistake? Oh, that's rich. What else haven't they told me, Ethan? Hm? Am I sitting on a second Vault? A gas chamber? A quantum gate to the underworld?"
He slammed both hands down on the desk, sending several data pads clattering to the floor. His face flushed a deep red.
"I was promised authority. Total control. They said I would be the shepherd. That I would lead these people into the new world. And now I find out I've been living in a house built by strangers, sleeping under a roof full of holes, while some... some... digital ghost licks its ones and zeroes over every goddamn byte of my life?!"
Ethan didn't answer. He just waited this outburst out.
McKinney's breath hitched. He started pacing, jittery and fast, hands running through his disheveled hair. "I thought maybe I was just tired. That it was stress. But now? Now I wonder. Maybe I was picking something up. Maybe it has been whispering all along…"
Ethan had enough He turned and walked out, never looking back. Behind him, McKinney sat down again, whispering something to the torn map under his fingers.
The pen scratched in looping red spirals.
7:55 AM – Vault 86 Operations, Level 1
Ethan stepped into the Operations room, where a low hum of activity filled the air. The technicians moved with quiet professionalism, their focus entirely on the task at hand. The room was orderly, each person absorbed in their work, but there was a noticeable edge of tension hanging in the air. Something was off, though nobody spoke it aloud.
At the front of the room, a woman stood, hands folded behind her back as she observed the operations. She wore a crisp Vault suit and a Pip-Boy, and her very presence commanded attention. Ethan didn't recognize her immediately, but she seemed to be in charge.
She turned toward him as he approached, her eyes present and assessing. "You must be Ethan Ross. Vault-Tec's got you handling the situation, I assume?"
Ethan nodded. "That's right. Field Supervisor from HQ. I'm just here to get things back on track and stay there."
The woman gave a brief smile. "Marla Chen. Second-in-command to Overseer McKinney. We're managing the fallout from this unscheduled drill. If this is an inspection, I think we might have failed. Still waiting on at least one hundred residents on the elevator waiting to get down to the Vault proper."
She gave him a quick once-over before turning toward a large terminal. "I apologize but, I'll need to step aside for a moment to address the residents. I'll leave you with Kyle here to catch up on the comms situation."
Before Ethan could respond, Marla moved swiftly toward the PA system set into one of the walls. As she did, Ethan turned to speak with the technician she had gestured to.
Kyle, one of the lead techs, glanced up from a terminal, his face tense. "So, presently comms are still down. We don't know exactly what caused the failure yet. All uplink contacts are fried. We've sent out one of the maintenance teams to check the hardlines directly. They're going to manually check the physical connections and reroute whatever's been damaged. It could be hours before we have a solid fix."
Ethan frowned. "So still no way to contact Vault-Tec?"
"Not without a working uplink," Kyle confirmed, his voice quiet. "We've got two main lines running through the walls of the cavern. One goes up through the ceiling, up 200 feet, to a satellite relay station atop the Hills we are situated under. That's the line we use for communications to the surface. The other runs to the vault's hardline connection, which links directly to Vault-Tec HQ in Washington, D.C. Both are fried as of 12:20 this morning. We've got a maintenance team on the surface line, but we don't know how bad it is up there. "
Ethan's jaw tightened. Without comms, he'd have to make the trip to Watoga himself. Not ideal, but if it was the only option.
"Keep me posted," Ethan said, moving toward the door. "I'll go to the local Vault-Tec Watoga satellite office if I have to. We can't afford to wait any longer than noon to let them know whats going on."
Kyle nodded, glancing back at the terminal. "We're on it."
As Ethan stepped back from the technician, the faint hum of the PA system crackled to life overhead, Marla's voice cutting through the air.
"Attention, all personnel. This is Marla Chen, second-in-command of Vault 86. We will be holding an atrium wide mandatory meeting at 8:30 AM. This will serve as a welcome for all personnel both those who participated in the January drill and the new arrivals today through the recent lottery. Everyone is expected to attend, unless excused by their supervisors. Please be in the atrium promptly at 0830."
Marla came back from the speakers and asked. "Ethan, I know this isn't exactly how you planned the day to go, but would you be willing to join me in welcoming the residents? I would ask Overseer McKinney, but…" She let out a quiet, tired sigh. "Well, you've met him. It'll look better coming from a field supervisor anyway. Besides, it'll give you a chance to kill some time while we try to get a handle on the communications."
Ethan, still feeling the weight of the situation, hesitated for a moment. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up the pretense that everything was fine, but the distraction might give him the opportunity to assess the residents a bit more. He nodded slowly.
He wasn't about to let the situation unravel just yet. The ZAX was offline. The Overseer was crazy. He just needed to hold the fort down until noon.
"Alright, I'll join you."
Everything was under control.
Everything was fine.
8:30 AM – Vault 86 Atrium
The cavernous atrium of Vault 86 hummed with quiet activity. The new residents, still adjusting to the sterile, cavernous space, stood in neat rows, their faces a mix of confusion, excitement, and nervousness. They were a mix of new arrivals from the previous vault spot lotteries and those who had won earlier and had participated in the partial activation drill back in January, many of them eyeing the unfamiliar surroundings with cautious looks.
Marla stood at the front, her posture commanding yet relaxed. She took a moment to scan the crowd before stepping forward, her voice smooth and controlled as it echoed across the PA system.
"Good morning, residents of Vault 86," she began, her voice projecting with a warmth that was at odds with the sterile surroundings. "Whether you're one of the brave few who participated in our partial activation drill back in January or one of the lucky individuals selected in the monthly lotteries since then, welcome. You are now part of the Vault-Tec family."
A few claps, hesitant but sincere, filtered through the crowd.
Marla smiled, letting the silence stretch for a moment as she let her words settle in. "I understand this is all a little overwhelming," she continued, her tone soothing. "But I assure you, you're in good hands. Vault 86 is more than just a shelter, it's a community. And, while this morning's events have certainly been unexpected, the Vault is more than capable of handling the challenges we face."
She paused, her gaze sweeping over the group of new arrivals. "Living in a Vault offers unique challenges, and today we'll start familiarizing you with what this life means. Some of the most notable things to keep in mind: Vaults like ours are engineered to create a contained, self sufficient environment. That means everything from air to water to food must be monitored and carefully controlled. Over the next day, you'll be introduced to the various systems and teams that ensure we run smoothly. This is an ecosystem, and every person here plays a role in its success."
She made a sweeping gesture, motioning toward the cavernous space surrounding them. "Vault 86 as you can see is built within an enormous underground limestone cavern it's a structure unlike any other in Vault-Tec's network. It's not just about housing you for the long term; it's about creating a sustainable living environment, one that keeps you safe, secure, and healthy for as long as it's needed."
There was a murmur from the crowd, a mix of intrigue and concern. Marla's voice remained steady as she continued. "In addition to the challenges inherent in maintaining such an environment, there are social dynamics that can arise in an isolated community. Tensions can form when people are confined for too long, and it's something we work hard to keep in check. Vault 86's current drill is a testament to how we adapt and test our preparedness. And while our team works to address all of these logistical issues, your cooperation and patience are crucial."
She glanced over at Ethan briefly. "In the next few hours, you'll be getting familiar with your new home. A reminder that your hours of operation for the canteen and commissary shops have been posted. We'll be running on a staggered schedule to avoid bottlenecks. And for those of you wondering about your vault allowance from the previous drill, it's already been deposited into your Exchange accounts. The process for withdrawing from the Exchange will be simple, and I trust you'll find it convenient."
Marla's voice became more enthusiastic, letting a touch of excitement seep in. "For the children residents among us, we'll be hosting tryouts for the Vault Youth Baseball and Softball teams. The tryouts will take place while the rest of you are being guided through the Vault tours and getting familiar with your possible future work assignments and finishing up the onboarding process."
He paused, letting that sink in. "And for anyone who still don't yet have their jumpsuits or assigned Pip-Boys, please see Marcus over there in the corner. He'll take care of everything for you."
She cleared her throat, looking around the room, knowing some of the residents would have concerns of their own. "Now, I know some of you have questions. For instance, some of you may have seen one of the more… unfortunate incidents earlier today—about one or two of the individuals who attacked security officers. I want to assure you that we're addressing the matter thoroughly, but it will be handled privately. We'll meet with those residents later today to clear up any concerns, and I trust that we'll all continue moving forward with a sense of community."
The murmur from the crowd grew a little louder at that, but Marla pushed on smoothly, her voice firm but reassuring. "We are a family here in Vault 86, and every single person matters. But sometimes things happen. We can't plan for every variable. What we can plan for is how we respond. And we've trained for moments like this."
She took a deep breath, letting her gaze sweep over the group once more. "So, while today has been unorthodox, I can assure you, you're safe. You're secure. And tomorrow, the drill will conclude as planned. The systems will be tested, the kinks worked out, and we will move forward as we always do: together."
The crowd seemed to settle as her words took hold, a few more soft applause trickling through the crowd as the tension in the air began to ease.
"We even have a special guest with us today. From Vault-Tec Headquarters in Washington DC, one of Vault-Tec's field supervisors was gracious enough to oversee today's drill."
Marla stepped back to let Ethan take over.
As Ethan stepped forward, the soft hum of voices in the atrium settled into a heavy silence. Dozens of faces, anxious, expectant, even curious turned toward him. He straightened his posture, adjusted his Vault-Tec badge, and cleared his throat. The moment felt staged, but necessary. His voice rang out with the confident cadence of someone trained to deliver good news under less-than-good circumstances.
"Good morning," he began, his tone even and authoritative as if he had done this dozens of times before. "My name is Ethan Ross, and I'm a field supervisor with Vault-Tec Corporate, here to oversee and support the execution of this morning's surprise readiness drill at Vault 86."
A few murmurs passed through the crowd, but most remained still, listening. Ethan continued, letting the familiar cadence of corporate-speak guide him.
"First and foremost, I want to thank each and every one of you for your swift and orderly participation. I recognize that many of you were contacted with very little notice, and that the transition into the Vault has not been without its... logistical challenges. That's to be expected. Drills of this scale are intentionally designed to test both systems and people under pressure."
He paused to let that settle. A few parents shifted their children closer. An elderly man scratched nervously at his Pip-Boy. Ethan pressed on, tone warming slightly.
"Let me be clear: what I've seen here this morning has been exemplary. Vault 86 has demonstrated a level of coordination and discipline that reflects the very best of our preparedness philosophy. From intake to orientation, your cooperation ensures that this Vault remains a model of safety, structure, and sustainability."
He glanced briefly toward the raised platform where Marla Chen stood at attention, hands clasped behind her back. He gave her a slight nod before addressing the crowd once more.
"You are now part of something extraordinary. Vault 86 is more than just a facility, it's a cornerstone of the Vault-Tec mission: to preserve life, ensure continuity, and provide a stable, secure environment for future generations. While the outside world may at times feel unpredictable, within these walls, we are governed by order, protected by purpose, and bound together as a unified community."
Ethan's voice softened at the edges as he concluded, allowing a hint of sincerity to break through the corporate gloss.
"Thank you for placing your trust in Vault-Tec. And thank you for playing your part in today's important exercise. Together, we ensure not only the safety of our families, but the legacy of a better tomorrow."
He glanced over at Marla, giving her a slight nod of approval before continuing. "You are all now part of a very special community, one that's designed to keep you safe, secure, and prepared for whatever comes. And while the world outside may be uncertain, inside these walls, we are family."
He stepped back slightly, his role as the corporate overseer now complete. Marla took over again smoothly, her voice continuing to reassure the crowd and guide them through the next steps.
8:50 AM – Vault 86: Operations Room
As the residents began to break up into their groups old and new. It was time for Ethan to get back to work. Marla's speech had done its job, and now the drill would continue as planned. He excused himself from the atrium, heading back toward the Operations room to find someone who could help him with the inspection of the hardline.
The room was still buzzing with activity. Technicians were focused on their tasks, but the sense of calm professionalism had returned. Ethan approached one of the senior techs, who had the name Matthews stenciled on his jumpsuit, who was organizing paperwork.
"Matthews," Ethan said, catching his attention. "I need a team for a quick inspection. They're working on the hardline for the uplink, right?"
Matthews nodded. "Yeah, they've got a team already mobilized for the satellite uplink tower. But we are about to send one to check the hardline to Washington. They are about to head out to an adjoining cavern where we think the problem started. I'll have them meet you."
After a quick exchange, a technician named Jack led Ethan to the elevators. The doors slid open, and the two descended to a lower sublevel, which led to a narrow corridor winding through the cavern. The air was cooler here, and the faint sound of distant machinery hummed around them as they walked.
They carefully made their way into an adjoining cavern following a metal grated walkway through the twisting bored stone tunnel. This cavern, which was smaller than the main Vault 86 space, was still a vast and echoing area. It took them about 40 minutes before they reached the spot in the communication line labeled. A further 2 hours passed before they discovered the cause of the failure. Something had clearly melted through the wiring, leaving a mess of exposed copper and burnt insulation.
something that made Ethan connect the dots. LYBER-T1's work, he thought. Ethan's eyes immediately went to the melted cables and scorched areas where the line had been damaged.
A damaged Vault-Tec Eyebot sat nearby, its blue and yellow casing dented and charred from apparent overload. Ethan's brow furrowed as he studied the scene. Well, that settles that, he thought.
Jack turned to him. "We're gonna need to take some readings, but… what happened here? Why would an Eyebot welder be working on the hardline?"
Ethan just shook his head, not offering an explanation. He knew the truth but chose not to speak it yet, this was a matter that needed more investigation. He couldn't be certain what had happened, and the answer was beyond the scope of his mission.
After a few more moments of inspection, the team agreed: the damage was severe. It would take more than a quick fix to restore communications. Ethan's instincts on the matter told him the lines would be more difficult to repair than anticipated, and the team confirmed that it could be at least a solid day before any serious progress was made on getting it fixed.
With the inspection concluded, the group left half their number with some lamps and tools. Right away starting cutting away the damaged cable for repair and retraced their steps back to Vault 86's main cavern, and by the time they arrived back at operations, it was approaching noon.
12:00 PM – Vault 86 Canteen
The canteen was bustling with the sounds of voices and trays clinking. Ethan grabbed a tray with a serving of Salisbury steak, a roll, and a cold Nuka-Cola, then made his way to one of the corner tables. He took a moment to relax and digest the morning's events. The room had settled into a new rhythm—staff moving efficiently, residents chatting more freely, the general tension of the early hours finally easing just a bit.
As he sat down, the soft chime of the vault's PA system echoed overhead, followed by the familiar, overly friendly voice of the Vault-Tec announcer:
"Attention residents! The Vault-Tec Orientation Film Festival continues in Rec Room B. Up next: 'So You've Been Assigned a Bunkmate!' an informative look at community living, with helpful tips and fun animation for the whole family. Popcorn not included!"
Ethan snorted quietly into his Nuka-Cola bottle. Somehow, it was worse when they were trying to be cheerful.
After finishing his meal, Ethan made his way to the elevator. The doors slid open with a soft hum, and he rode up to the main entrance of Vault 86. The atrium, once again, felt quiet as he walked through the corridor toward the vault's outer base structure. He didn't even bother letting Overseer McKinney know where he was going. He wasn't up to dealing with him or his craziness right now.
12:30 PM – Vault 86: Outdoor Movie Theater Base Structure
Ethan made his way up the tunnel from the Vault entrance toward the outdoor movie theater's base structure, where he'd parked his car. As he reached the lot, he noticed that it was absolutely packed, just overflowing with cars. Everyone who had arrived earlier seemed to have parked here in hardly any sort of order, adding to the overall sense of chaos.
He paused for a moment, just looking at the overflowing lot, before heading to his car. Opening the glove box, he retrieved his Vault-Tec issued field book, flipping through it as he studied the instructions and protocols for communication. The book said that Vault-Tec had rented an office in Watoga city proper and they should have some means to contact headquarters. He just needed the address. Ah, There it was. He scribbled it down on the back of his hand with a marker he found in his issued bag. This was the closest and most secure option for reaching headquarters, but there were just no guarantees on timing, not with everything happening. They should be open it was only noon.
Sighing, he placed the field book back into the glove box, got into the car, and started the engine, started making his way toward Watoga.
1:18 PM – Watoga City Outskirts
The closer Ethan got to the city, the worse it became.
He saw an emergency securitron robot with its arms missing slowly trundling by on the roadside. Its voice box repeated a garbled, stuttering phrase, something about "citizen assistance" but the words were broken, looping and tangled in code. It was a haunting sight. He drove past quickly, speeding up.
Ethan swerved around a downed monorail car that had fallen from the line above the freeway to land in the middle of the road. The top connecting it to the central rail had been sheared clean through, like some massive force had torn it out of the air and dropped it. The wreckage blocked most of the road, forcing him to slow and navigate carefully.
As he rounded another bend in the road closer to the city, Ethan's car slowed when he saw a roadblock ahead. A small group of police officers stood in front of it, talking among themselves, but the moment they spotted Ethan's car, they turned and held up their hands, signaling for him to stop.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He pulled to a stop a few yards from the officers, his engine idling.
One of the officers, a tall man with dark sunglasses, stepped forward. "You're not going any further, son," he said, his tone grim but authoritative. "This road is closed. We've got orders to turn anyone and everyone back except if you're with the army or national guard. And you don't look like either."
Ethan rolled down his window all the way, frustration building. "I need to get into Watoga. What's going on?"
The officer's eyes narrowed slightly, scanning him. "Didn't you hear on the radio? They're locking down the entire city and the surrounding area. The robots in the city proper have gone rogue, and there's been nothing heard from city hall since this morning. We've got people trying to reestablish control, but right now? You're better off heading back where you came from."
"I'm not turning back," Ethan snapped. "I'm here on official Vault-Tec business. I need to get into the city."
The officer shook his head. "That's what I'm telling you. No one's getting through. There's a full security perimeter in place. Did you hear what I told you? Robots are turning on civilians in the city. It's not safe for anyone. I'm not letting anyone through this road."
He could feel the weight of the officer's words hanging in the air, the urgency creeping in. "I don't have time for this. I need to get through," he said, trying again to sound firm, but he could tell the officer wasn't going to budge.
"Listen," the officer said, his voice lowering a bit, "I'm not trying to make this personal, but you don't know what's happening out there. They are saying it's really bad. I need you to turn your car around, head back to where you came from, or we'll have to place you in protective custody in the back of that police car. For your own safety. I won't let you get yourself killed."
Ethan took a deep breath, fighting the frustration and confusion swirling inside him. For a second, he could absolutely feel the walls closing in. What the hell is going on?
He exhaled slowly. OK. I am okay. Everything is fine.
"Fine," he muttered, starting the engine again. "I'll head back."
As he turned the car around, the uniformed officers watched him carefully, their eyes scanning for any sign of hesitation. Ethan's mind raced. I guess I'll just have to go back to the Vault. Someone had to break the news to the people there and let them know what's happening.
