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Vault 69	By : sandman-nobody Category: +A through F > Fallout (Series) > Fallout (Series) Views: 107266 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 6
Disclaimer: I do not own Fallout. I am not making any money from this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
A/N: Wow, so it's been a while, huh? Sorry about that. As much I would love to build more on this story, I have a lot of works to update and some get pushed to the side by mistake. Between them, school work, and the commissions I've been getting lately a lot of my time has been taken. Hopefully I'll either learn to work faster or find more time to write. Either way, if you enjoyed the chapter be sure to leave a review. Considering the relatively small size of the fandom I'm pretty shocked at the attention this story is getting.
Tag(s): Doggie-Style, impregnation.
Beta: Lords of Ember Celica
Word(s): 7,348
Chapter 4 – Surprises
Bent over her own desk with a face masked in pleasure twisting under the tension of her impending release was Abigail Green. Standing behind her, Tomas gripped her hips to the point of bruising, drilling the enhanced length of his cock in and out of her twitching womanhood with stamina only someone of his age could manage. Their deep gasps and heavy panting filled the small classroom, blending perfectly with the heavy rhythmic smacking and thumping of flesh upon flesh. Under normal circumstances, the sight of a young teenage male tangled in the throws of passion with an older woman in such a setting would have been alarming just a month ago.
Her large breasts swung in perfect sync with the quick pace of his purposeful thrusts. Quick as they were, each motion seemed controlled, measured even. Each a response to the subtle, and not so subtle messages his teacher was sending him with her moans ~faster~, gasps ~too hard~, and twitching of her inner muscles ~there!~. Compared to the erratic pounding he'd put her through not two weeks ago it was a marked improvement, only made possible by the same woman who was now enjoying the fruits of her labor.
Running his hands up her sides, he resisted the urge to deviate from his path to enjoy her mammoth sized melons and continued up to her shoulders, enjoying the feel of the slick sweat glazing her skin. Sweat that was there because of him. Reaching her shoulders, he took hold of her as soon as he felt the telltale flutter around his cock. She was close, and he knew exactly how to push her right over the edge. Changing up his pace, he switched from the quick short thrusts he had been giving her to long, hard, drives. Pulling back until only his tip remained within he would thrust in halfway, then pull back before pushing forward hard all the way to the hilt.
Together, combined with the hard grip on her shoulders he made sure she took every inch of him as deep into her channel as possible. Not even a dozen thrusts later it happened, he caught the small whine at the back of her throat that marked her end. Hands moving down back to her hips as he withdrew, they clamped down to hold her in place as he rammed himself back in one last time.
Her back muscles seized, then came the final release of her pent up pleasure.
Tomas gasped at feeling his teacher tighten around him. Sweat dripping down her forehead to the laminated wood as his face twisted into an expression of raw sensation. The pressure he'd been trying to hold back this entire time came to a point and exploded out in a torrent of thick white cream. Still buried balls deep in the warm clenching muscle, his cum coated the inside of her belly pooling in the very back of her womb.
Coming down from his high, he moved his hands forward leisurely, cupping the curve of her ribs until they reached under to take hold of her ample assets. Panting like he'd just run a marathon, the excess moisture rolled off his face to mix with the sweat already beading along the surface of Abigail's back.
The two stayed like that for some time, Tomas massaging and kneading her breasts as she enjoyed his arduous attentions and affections while collecting themselves and their breath. Swimming in the pleasant aftershock of endorphins, Abigail was more than content to rest the weight of her body against the cool oak of her desk, her large breast overflowing his hands and spilling along the sides of her ribs as a result. Tomas' still hard cock remained buried inside her, making the fluttering of her inner muscles that much more pleasant for the both of them. When he finally did pull away, she felt the firm flesh leave her and sighed at the sudden empty feeling that came with it. Taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she turned to watch his naked frame while he dressed.
It was a scene of comfort, of familiarity. Over the past two weeks the two had taken the opportunity to grow very close; for more than one reason. It wasn't until he was pulling his zipper up that he glanced at her from over his shoulder, eyes lingering along the female figure. The tent in his pants refused to relax.
Tomas fixed his clothing, trying to calm the warm skin still flushed with the exertion of passion. Touching a hand to his neck, his fingers came away glistening with sweat.
Abigail, ass still bent up in the air, just stared at him. Aware of her attention, Tomas couldn't help but smile, before folding back into old habits of self-consciousness. "What?"
She moved to rise, the heavy weight of her beast swaying with her motions. Approaching the young man from behind she wrapped her arms around him and leaned until her chin rested comfortably on his head. Enjoying the softness pressing against his back, Tomas flushed, but otherwise offered no resistance.
"You have come a long way," she congratulated, her tone proud if not a little sad. Warm air broke over his brow, tickling the fringe of his bangs. "I don't think I have had the chance to tell you that." And in a way, Tomas could understand what she was talking about.
Still prone to being quiet and hang back rather than step forward, under Abigail's care he'd overcome the crippling fear that kept him from functioning around women. In that respect, he could already feel the difference just walking through the Vault. The overwhelming female population was still strange, as was his position as it's only male. But he could manage it now without the overwhelming wave of anxiety sending him running back to hide in his room.
"I'm… pretty sure I have you to thank you for that," he smiled, and how much could be gleaned from that one sentence.
Warmth, affection, possibly even love. Hearing all of this, Abigail's expression remained the same, settled into a gentle smile. She decided it would be best not to comment.
"What I mean is," she went on, her tone light and careful, "that I think you are ready, for the rest of the Vault. I am very happy to see you have been enjoying our lessons so far, but do not forget your responsibilities to the rest of the women who will need you." Tomas' face curled in worry.
"You want to stop?" Offering only a meek resistance, Tomas managed to untangle himself from his lovers grasp to turn and face her. Immediately he searched her face, finding naught but care and compassion.
"Tom, nothing would make me happier than to keep you for myself. Unfortunately, because of our circumstances that is not a possible reality. Eventually I will have to share you, and I would not be doing my job if I failed to insure you were prepared for when this time came." Tomas took this explanation as well as could be expected, but still managed to keep himself composed.
"Okay, but," he stalled, searching for what he could say to fight back against her point. "But we can keep going until you're pregnant, right? I mean you need a baby as much as the rest of them." Clearly proud of his argument, he stared at the flat plain of her stomach still devoid of the tiny bump that would swell in the coming days. The sight of her hand interrupted his view as it lay across the pale skin.
"Yes," she allowed. "We can continue until I am pregnant. But afterwards, can you tell me you will be prepared to move on?" And though the young man couldn't hear it, the words came with their own small weight of inevitability. Oblivious, he smiled happily.
"Sure but, that could take months and stuff, right? We should just be happy for now and worry about that when the time comes." Abigail didn't answer, but she didn't stop Tomas when he leaned up for a kiss goodbye. Soft lips lingering on each other, when they finally broke her blue eyes watched him prepare to leave.
The two quickly collected the last of their things, Tomas finishing just as Abigail returned her bra to its proper place in containing her breasts. "Same time tomorrow?" he was both cheeky and searching. And to his relief, Abigail answered with her familiar smile, calm and comforting.
"Try not to be late for dinner tonight, okay?" her tone was gentle but insistent. "You really need to eat more." But Tomas just waved her concern away. Lately, everyone seemed to be telling him what to do. Eat more, sleep more. Don't forget to take your vitamins. At this point he just ignored them.
Unlocking the sliding door he wasn't surprised at all to see his childhood friend Camille seated just on the other side of the hallway. Face burred in a book; her deep brown eyes looked up, blinking slowly with the same bored expression she always wore while waiting for him after class. Without a word, she picked up her things and shouldered her bag. The two shuffled off down the hall in no particular hurry.
"You know you don't have to wait for me," he reminded her. This was the third time he'd found her sitting outside since he and Abigail had begun their routine. Shrugging her shoulders, her face remained frustratingly impassive.
"Easier than tracking you down later," she sighed, "and it's not like I can trust you to come find me afterwards…"
"Not my fault all you want to do is homework," he grumbled. Though if he were honest, he knew there wasn't all that much they could do in terms of entertainment in the Vault. Almost as if she were making up for this fact, Abigail held nothing back in burying them under mountains of homework to keep them occupied outside of class. Sex aside, she seemed genuine in her goal of seeing them excel.
"You know Tommy, if you still manage to fail a class when you're literally sleeping with the teacher; I'm going to die laughing." Again, Tomas felt his cheeks burn with indignation.
It still shocked him how she could remain so blasé in the face of everything. If anyone else heard about what was happening between him and Abigail they'd flip there lid. But here she was, cracking jokes. He was almost jealous of her ability to cope.
"At least tell me you can't hear anything," he pleaded. In truth he was more than disturbed by the thought of anyone just walking by and hearing exactly what was going on during his and Mrs. Green's 'after class sessions'. In response she just rolled her eyes as though the idea was ridiculous.
"Believe it or not, I have better things to do than listen to you get laid." There was a hint of laughter in her tone that just happened to rub Tomas the wrong way. Shoulders hunched and facing forward, his tone was quiet and chipped.
"Not enough to keep you from sitting outside the door everyday…" A bit louder than he'd intended, as soon as the words left his mouth he regretted it. Peeking out of the corner of his eyes, he tried to see if Camille gave any sign that she'd heard him. But calm and stone faced as ever, she continued walking with the same lazy gait she always did. He decided to put it out of his mind and the two continued in silence.
The familiar door to what he now called home came into view quickly enough. The two stepped up and Tomas entered to four digit code meant to keep others out. The door slid upward, and they made their way inside only to stop at the sight of who was waiting for them.
"Tommy!" his mother smiled warmly with her arms open wide just as she always did when he came home from school.
Leaving their bags by the door Tomas walked toward his mom, uncomfortable in more ways than he could explain or wanted to think about. In many ways he still wasn't used to how things were now, so different yet still so much the same. Coming home from school after his first time with Abigail he'd been forced to accept the fact that his mother knew exactly what he'd been doing, with whom, and no doubt she would have questions about it. Yet, despite going through the mental preparation for his looming inquisition, he opened the door to find his mother greeting him in the same sweet and loving tone he'd heard his entire life.
The very same tone she was using right now.
He knew that she knew, and he knew she knew that he knew. Stuck waiting for her to respond or acknowledge the fact that she'd basically set him up for his first time having sex she didn't even bat an eye at the awkward exchange. Instead she breezed past the clear discomfort and chose to leave the enormous elephant in the room ignored while he struggled to figure out how to walk around it.
He stiffly returned her overbearing hug.
"I just wanted to see you home before leaving; the Overseer has asked to see me again." Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear she picked up a small stack of papers and shuffled them into a folder. Tomas simply nodded his head, only really halfway listening.
While not yet an established governor of the Vault, Mrs. Swan had been visiting the Overseer quite frequently over the past week. She hadn't explained why, though neither of her children thought to ask her during the increasingly rare occasions she was around. Both were too distracted, or just too tired to question her repeated disappearances.
"Clair?" he found himself asking, to which his mother just sighed.
He didn't need to press the matter any further to know it would be another good few hours before she dragged herself back from her job at the power plant, just to fall onto her cot and pass out. The exception being if one of her shift partners brought her back already unconscious as had been the case her first day.
"I can't believe the hours they're making her work," she went on, eyes drawn to her files. "Everyone is already exhausted. Either they are trying to do something without the help they need, or they are trying to train people while working without the help they need. It's all just taking too long to set up, we don't have enough people qualified for half the positions we still need filled," she stopped herself before she could begin ranting about the issue and shook her head.
"Sorry, I know you have been hearing that from everyone enough already and I really should be going. It's good to see you again Camille, I really wish we had the time to chat and catch up." Flashing the olive skinned girl a reproachful grin, Tomas' friend just waved her off. "Feel free to help yourself to whatever's in the fridge. I think we got a fresh delivery of apples this morning." At hearing this, the otherwise indifferent girl actually seemed to perk up and what looked to be the beginnings of a smile threatening the edge of her lips.
"Well, I mean, if you insist…" Flashing the girl a smile she gave her a wink before continuing towards the door.
"Have fun you two, and try to get some studying in before your sister gets home, she needs her rest." Grabbing the rest of her thing she quickly stepped outside of the room, but not before kissing the tips of her fingers and pressing them against her son's cheek. Grimacing, he watched the door close behind her, relieved.
That was basically what his home life had become since the Vault was no longer under lockdown. A sister who was too busy working to be around and a mother he waited to leave rather than taking any comfort in her presence. Camille had said that he wouldn't go looking for her if she didn't stick around but Tomas was fairly sure it would take only an hour or so of isolation before he braved the halls in search for his only friend. Not that he would ever tell her that.
Picking up his bag he fell onto the floor, seating himself in front of a low table they'd pulled from the corner of the room. Camille, true to her promise, immediately moved towards the kitchen. "Grab me a sugar bomb!" Tomas called out, knowing there was really only a fifty-fifty chance she would listen. She didn't answer, but walking back into the room to see his history textbook already open she dropped the package of powdered sugar in his lap before joining him. Two red fruits tumbled onto the smooth metal surface while she was poised to take a large bite out of a third.
Staring at them, Tomas just raised an eyebrow before looking at his friend. Camille's already dark cheeks became even more so. "Too much?" she asked, setting the third one next to the others.
"Not really." Pulling the plastic packet around his treat open, the crinkly material wined before finally giving in. Reaching in, he grabbed a few of the dusty white pellets before popping them in his mouth. "Just didn't know you were that into apples."
Calming down, Camille picked one up to stare at its shiny smooth surface with a small but growing smile. Taking a bite, sweet juice actually trailed down her chin. Smothering a satisfied moan that threatened to escape, each bite was particularly audible. The resounding ~crunch, crunch~ followed by her swallowing. Tomas shifted uneasily at seeing her throat bob and tried to focus on her eyes instead. Licking her lips, she just shook her head.
"Guess I just miss real food." This earned a look of confusion from her friend, only adding to her annoyance.
"We eat together twice a day," he reminded her. Lunch and dinner in the dining hall might not be five star dining but he didn't have any problems with it either. Camille didn't seem to share his opinion, rolling her eyes.
"It's all processed or frozen," she said before sighing. "It's only been a month and my stomach already feels like it's trying to melt though my body."
"I think its fine." The young man shrugged, popping another ball of processed powdered sugar into his mouth. Camille watched the motion with a dry stare.
"Not everyone can survive off sugar." Her smile was sarcastic, same as it always was unless she was teasing him. "Before the war my family had a garden remember? We had tomatoes and corn and berries right from the ground."
Expression dropping, the memories of her father just reminded her of his death. Seeing the dip in his friend's expression, Tommy turned away from her, unused to seeing her so down. Biting his lip, he reached for one of the remaining fruits.
"Things will get better." He rolled it around his hand as he did his best to recall what he had overheard others talking about in the cafeteria. "The Overseer is still getting the farms up and running, these were just part of the first batch." Holding it, it was strange to consider how the fruit had been grown indoors, five miles underground. "Mom says that soon there will be more than anyone could want."
She hadn't actually said anything about the hydroponics, but Tomas' assumed that was the case. Besides, it seemed to cheer Camille up, if only slightly. "And until then… you're always welcome here." Unused to anything besides their usual playful banter, the words came out begrudging but Camille could hear the honesty in them. Looking at the floor, the blond boy failed to notice the small smile that had replaced her frown.
"Would it… be okay if I took some back for Paula?" a tone lighter than the sadness she'd been showing a moment before, Tomas jumped on the progress, anything to keep him from dealing with a sad girl.
"Sure," he shrugged his shoulders, "your mom too if she wants any." Her eyes looked up, gratitude shining through. "How are they by the way? We're always coming back here; I haven't even had the chance to talk to them yet."
"Paula's Paula." With a roll of her eyes she couldn't hide the love she carried for her younger sibling. "She was pretty upset when we heard about dad but, honestly? I think she's made the adjustment better than the rest of us." Tomas wasn't at all surprised.
Compared to the introverted, stoically droll girl that was Camille, Paulina couldn't have been more different if she tried. If he had to describe the younger sibling, he would have told started by telling them to think of the most pink loving, dress wearing, and girly girl imaginable, then add she would put them all to shame. Paula Lopez was excitable to the point of vibrating and sociable enough to make friends anywhere she went. Though, her most interesting trait had to be the obvious, and at many times embarrassing crush she carried for young Tomas.
"Though, she's been asking for you." Another sarcastic smile formed, one that grew watching Tomas' face flush and frown. Torturing her friend with her sister's unwanted affection never failed to amuse her. And that, at least, hadn't changed.
"Guess I can drop by some time," he begrudgingly offered. Though, maybe not as much as he put on. At thirteen her feelings had never been anything but awkward and a little uncomfortable for the slightly older teen, but that didn't make him care about her any less. A second family to the boy, it hurt to think he'd gone so long without seeing them; he was almost willing to bear through one of her infamous bone crushing hugs… maybe.
"It's probably better if I just brought her down here," she challenged. "Between me, Paula, mom and Ms. Ronald its already pretty cramped." Tomas just nodded his head and did his best not to flinch.
From the very beginning he'd been aware of the fact that his family's accommodations were a bit more… privileged than the rest of the Vault populace enjoyed. Though, it wasn't until he went outside and actual saw the difference that he became aware of the true discrepancy.
A large family by the Vault's standards, the Lopez family was actually pretty lucky in terms of privacy. While stuck with an admittedly small living space they were forced to share with only one other woman. Not bad at all considering some rooms resembled barracks more than homes, with lines of bunk beds housing women, sometimes up to eight in a single room who were 'hot bunking' with another eight on different shifts. Compared to his family's spacious dormitory, it was no guess as to why they always ended up coming here now that he thought about it.
"Maybe this weekend," he smiled. "I heard they might start playing movies in the rec hall between shift hours, we could go see if it's anything worth watching?"
Camille seemed to sigh, her eyes drawn and low. "As long as they don't show the bottom of my sister's bunk for six hours then anything's an improvement." They shared an exaggerated smile after that. The sheer boredom of living in a Vault became overwhelming at times.
"Cool, it's a date." Tommy replied without thinking, even turning towards his work in time to miss the smiling glance his remark had caused. She kicked him under the table, "Ow!" not so much as batting an eye as she began to pull out her own books. Tomas stared at her, eyes wide with confusion and cradling his injured limb. He was about to call out when-.
"Enough talking," as though the moment before had never happened she continued. "We only have another," she glanced at the clock, "seventeen hours until this is due and you need every second you can get." Tomas made a face but otherwise didn't bother pointing out her 'leg spasm'. This wasn't the first time the girl had found a reason to smack him from out of nowhere, and it wouldn't be the last either.
Time passed and the two young adults managed through their work at a reasonable pace. Which was good since, complain as they might about how much they had, homework was about the only thing they had to keep them occupied outside the classroom.
As it stands, they both managed to finish just before dinner, Tomas a few minutes after Camille. Now they were both stiffly shuffling off in search of food. It didn't take long however before both teens noticed more and more women clogging the hall the closer they came to the single cafeteria.
Since his sessions with Mrs. Green had started, she'd made it a point to encourage him to have more of a presence in the Vault outside of class. Pointing out how taking walks around the hallways and exploring the limited space outside his home could help him become more accustomed to being surrounded by an all female population. As a result, his private meals brought to him by his mother had all but come to an end.
His first time walking into the crowded room, he'd been unnoticed up until he'd gotten his food. But as soon as one woman recognized the lone male in the room, the word spread like wildfire until young Tomas found himself faced with an overwhelming number of gazes. Some were curious, some were fearful, others he couldn't quite explain.
In the past that would have been enough to send him running, but the confidence Abigail had managed to instill had been enough to keep standing strong.
Well, standing anyways.
He spent the next hour or so enjoying a decent, albeit awkward, meal. But like most instances in life, able to actually see the mythical future of their Vault was enough to sate the curiosity that had been building and building. Their attention had slowly but surely drifted back to their meals apparently satisfied he wasn't about to start mounting any of them right then and there.
With nothing else to draw their attention, he quickly faded back into obscurity. Which was just fine by him.
Stepping through the mechanical doors, a veritable sea of cranky, overworked women sat grouped around the square tables scattered throughout the room. And at one of them, farthest to the left and tucked out of the way of the other women, they spotted Clair, head down on the table and tray of food all but untouched at her side. They shared a look.
The line was fast enough that they didn't mind it. Once they were each doled out their overcooked pasta with canned tomato sauce, they made their way back to the forlorn blonde, who didn't even flinch when they sat on either side of her. Tomas at her right, and Camille at her left, it was only when his finger pressed annoyingly into the side of her head that she showed any signs of life. That being in the form of a long and drawn out sigh that carried even over the low roar of hundreds of people talking.
"Ughhhh," her pitiful groan was just audible enough for Tomas to smirk.
"How's it feel to be a working woman?" he teased. "Everything you dreamed it would be?" thankfully for him, Clair was too exhausted to work up any kind of temper, choosing instead to stare pitifully at the two well rested students.
"I wanna go back to school!" she keened in the way only one who understood the comfort of college could when forced into society. Turning toward her brother her soft features pinched petulantly.
"Why do you get to go? You have a job, an easy one! All you have to do is have sex, lucky." She turned back towards her tray, indignation finally starting to burn behind her eyes.
"No lifting pipes or getting smeared in grease or dealing with plumbing. Just, 'hello miss! Don't mind my dick,' prick." The last word became accusatory, and Tomas just shrugged at his sister, somewhat used to her lamenting by this point.
Honestly though, he was the only one she could complain to. At least while the majority of the Vault's situation was just as bad.
Around the room, just looking, Tomas could see the exhausted figures of the women too tired to open their eyes. He could only hope that things would change with enough time. He may not have much in the way of experience, but based on what he overheard everything should settle down and the workload would ease up once everyone got used to their schedules and everyone was actually trained properly. And until then… well, he just hoped it wouldn't take too long.
He paused after a moment, realizing who was missing from their table. "Where's mom?" but Clair didn't answer, one eyebrow rising as she realized the same thing as her brother. The question was cut short by the sound of intercoms crackling to life.
All at once everyone in the cafeteria of Vault sixty nine turned to look at far wall where a small stage had been built into the side equipped with a microphone and several speakers. The Overseer, with her red hair and million dollar smile, stood at the small podium, tapping at the microphone with one of her long, manicured nails. She continued testing the device until the rapid thumping resounded throughout the room.
"Good evening citizens of Vault sixty nine," she greeted with her overly sweet tone and bright expression. Compared to the dark shadow that every other woman carried it was impossibly out of place, made even more so by the utter silence that followed. Whatever the older woman had been pausing for didn't seem like it was going to come, but she continued without acknowledging the cold return.
"Today marks the thirty fourth day since every one of our lives became woven together, and since the start of this wonderful community I see us becoming. I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for working so hard in building towards our future." She smiled at the room, perfect white teeth flashing in the overhead light. But by then, much of the room had already turned back towards their meal.
This wasn't as strange an occurrence as one might first think. The Overseer seemed to make an appearance at least once a week giving updates on the Vault's progress and always making sure to thank everyone for their sacrifices. Some still seemed to take her at her word, they were easy to spot. Still turned toward the older woman, their stress lined faces had brightened with something close to a spark of hope. A majority of the Vault, however, had taken to ignoring her completely.
Mabel Turner did her job as the Overseer, listing and explaining everything the groups of woman had managed to accomplish in the week. Food was in production, the water purifier was still working without issues and the clogged plumping had been solved so there shouldn't be any more issues in the communal showers.
To most people, hearing that their home was running so smoothly was a good thing. But these women, tired and broken down after having everything torn from them, were much more interested in hearing what their Overseer wasn't saying.
She didn't report on their work hours being relaxed, she didn't report on any kind breaks they could expect in the near future, she didn't report on a more comfortable living situation becoming available, and she didn't say a damn word on how much longer they were expected to work like dogs for her Vault. But who cared about any of that when a new flavor of Nuka-cola was being introduced to the vending machines, right?
By the end of her speech, even the people who had bothered to listen to whole thing had turned back to their meals, frustration burning beneath their hunched figures. Tension was building and if something wasn't done quickly, someone was going to snap.
"Thank you for your time and thank you again for everything you've done," she finished before adding just as she always did, "Always remember; yours are the backs on which our future is built, and it's your sacrifices that will be remembered as the foundation on which we will rise."
Spoken like a true politician.
Hearing her customary closing, everyone turned away. The speech was over and everyone expected their glorious leader to step off the stage and exit like usual. Except this time, the sound of the speakers cutting off didn't cut through the din of the room. Instead, another woman took the stage. One that was disturbingly familiar to the young man still watching the wooden lectern.
"Mom?!"
It was true, up there on the stage, stepping next to the Overseer, Jennifer Swan stood proudly in her standard issue jumpsuit taking her place at the microphone. Clair, hearing her brothers disbelieving outcry, looked up with the same confused expression everyone else had as they sat in silence waiting to find out what was going on.
"Um, hello?" her voice boomed over the sound system as she spoke too close into the mic. She looked somewhat awkward and not at all as comfortable being in front of so many people as their Overseer had been. She blinked, pulling back from the netted metal cone as Mabel Turner phantomed a gesture with her hands, motioning her to back away some. It was a humorous sight and one she took with an apologetic grin.
"Hello?" she tried again, this time at a much more reasonable volume. After her outburst, few people had bothered to look at her, but his mother continued as best as she could, taking a moment to smile at the people that put forth the effort.
"Many of you probably don't know me, and I wouldn't expect you to either. After all, just a month ago I was one of you, just another woman, another face in the crowd doing her best to survive in this strange new world of ours. However, I did have one thing that made me different, one small stroke of luck that I thank god for every morning I wake up and every night before I go to sleep. That being, my wonderful son."
This time she turned in his direction, waving while Tomas stared at her through wide eyes. A few of the women around his table turned to give him a quirked brow and he found his cheeks flushing involuntarily at what felt like every eye in the room on him. He turned his face towards the table, ignoring the new interest his mother had inspired as best he could.
"I know that right now things are difficult," Jennifer continued, her tone more fitting of the topic at hand, lower and earnest. Exactly what Mabel had been trying to imitate when she'd addressed the Vault. "I know some of you even feel that there is no hope, and that everything we're doing isn't going to amount to anything. But I am here to show you exactly what we are fighting for." She then turned and gestured to the left of the stage where a third woman moved to enter the stage, this one just as familiar to the younger blond boy.
"Mrs. Green?" Camille's surprise sounded in her tone.
Just as she said, the dark haired high school teacher walked onto stage taking her place beside their mother and smiling pleasantly. Overall her demeanor seemed quite and composed. But Jennifer moved to wrap an arm around her slender shoulders and held her while addressing the Vault.
"This is Abigail Green; she volunteered to teach our children what they will need to know when it's their turn to inherit this Vault. It's an important job and I feel that everyone can appreciate just what it means," she paused a moment, scanning the room with her eyes. "However," she continued, "it is the other career she has chosen to take on that I am here to talk about today." She moved with her other hand, placing it over the other woman's stomach.
People caught on quickly and eyes widened. Next to Tomas, Clair turned to look at her brother, eyes widening at the implications. Meanwhile, said young man ignored his sister and stared up at the podium feeling an assortment of emotions rush through his heart. Not one of them hopeful.
A quite murmur had begun to build in the room and more women had turned to look at what was causing the commotion. "That's right," Jennifer smiled proudly as any parent could as she confirmed just what she had meant by her taking on another career. "Abigail is pregnant with what will be my first grandchild, and will be the first of many to usher in the next generation."
What had been a low hum of conversation erupted as soon as the teachers condition had been confirmed. Many stared openly at the pair like they couldn't believe their ears, while others had taken to staring at Tomas. Apparently their fear of being mounted wasn't quite as misplaced as they'd guessed. Jennifer waited a few moments for the noise to recede before attempting to speak.
"I understand that many of you are surprised by this news, maybe even concerned. But mourning what we have lost can't take precedent to what we have to achieve. This is proof of a future and proof of hope, so long as we are willing to build it. That is why I am going to be the first thank this woman for being so brave, for looking forward to a future while everyone around her is still focused on their pain. Most importantly, I want to thank her for being brave enough to embrace motherhood. It is the most beautiful and terrifying journey we can walk in life, and one only those who have experienced for herself could understand."
She turned towards Abigail with a wide beaming smile. "Thank you."
Up till this point the teacher had kept her composure, face set forward and her hands folded polity in her lap. Being directly addressed, she answered Tomas mother with a gentle and warm smile, joining his mother's hand with her own to cradle the unborn child growing within her womb. The one Tomas had put there.
"Nothing could make me happier than knowing I'm doing my part for the Vault," was her answer. One that left many women deeply confused, if their expressions were anything to go by. "It is so important that everyone recognizes their place in our new home, whatever it may be." And Tomas felt his breath freeze in his throat as her eyes seemed to scan the crowd before locking onto his wide eyed stare. "Everyone," she repeated, and Tomas didn't need to be a genius to understand what she was telling him. His expression dropped.
"Of course," Jennifer continued towards the people of the Vault, "such dedication and selfless action deserves more than our thanks as reward." If she didn't have everyone's attention before, every eye in the Vault was now staring at the mother of two with unwavering focus, be it those in the cafeteria or those scattered throughout the Vault watching on various closed circuit screens.
"To be set forth immediately, Abigail will be relieved of all responsibilities and obligations so as not to overexert herself in her current state. To the same effect, she will be given her own private dormitory with its own facilities for the duration of her pregnancy to insure her environment will remain as stress free as possible. Her rations and dietary needs will of course be taken into consideration as well, meaning she will be given first priority when our hydroponic crops are harvested to help nurture herself and her child's health throughout the process. Once her child is born, whether she decides to raise it herself, or if she chooses to give it to be raised by the Vault, these amenities will be retained until she has fully recovered. However long that may be."
Silence dominated the room as women from all over stared in disbelief at what they were being told. No work? Their own room? Fresh food? It was like winning the Vault's equivalent of the lottery. And for what? Squeezing out a kid? Suddenly, many of the women who had been unsure of, and even against the idea of being forced to carry a child looked on the subject with new light.
Exactly as the Overseer and Council had intended, and just why everyone had been run ragged for the last few weeks.
To make this mark even clearer, Jennifer went on to say, "please keep in mind that this would be afforded to any woman whose pregnancy is confirmed by our chief medical officer. I will personally be handling and in charge of this, along with any of you who find yourself pregnant. The Overseer has been kind enough to appoint me over this task, and granted me full authority in carrying out my duties. Whatever is needed or requested I will do my best to provide for you." Flashing another smile, she scanned over the audience.
"I'm looking forward to meeting and working with everyone brave enough to look towards our future. Thank you for your time." This time the entire Vault watched as the four women moved to step down from the stand, with Abigail clustered safely between them.
Tomas watched all of this, acutely aware of the dozens, if not hundreds of eyes suddenly turned in his direction.
A/N: There it is. Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long to get out. All I ask is that you bear with me and my very limited schedule. If you enjoyed the story I would love to hear from you. If you hated the story I would love to hear from you. Any time you take to leave a review is much appreciated. I hope to hear from you soon.
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Vault 69