1x1 Silent Symphony & sharrrhea

[Veins Of Opal]

Lenore remained silent as Beatrice approached, talking in her happy tone, that look in her eyes of a brainless creature. She sheepishly, glanced around as Kayleen studied the poem, and Lenore's blue eyes peered over her friend's shoulder, reading the poem as well. They nodded to Beatrice, and began to head down to the Reactor-Level, where Jonas was.

Lenore had never been down there, of course. And like always, she was fidgety and sheepish about it, sticking close to Kayleen. She dully wondered what her birthday would be like. She didn't particularly want a party, of course. She was quite the recluse. She'd rather have a nice day in her room, with her father, brother, and Kayleen.

[sharrrhea]

Kayleen smiled at Lenore. They were practically sisters, always together. Kayleen loved Lenore's family, she was always treated as part of it. Her brother, Freddie, he always seemed a little lost at times. He liked to be in his thoughts, where no one could criticize him or make fun. Kayleen understood where he came from completely. Lenore was almost the same way. Kayleen was very admirable of specific traits in others that she could not specifically say she had. As the two made their way down the stairs to Jonas, James could be heard following.

When they entered the room, Jonas walked over with an almost angered face. "What are you two doing in here, you know kids can't be in here," he grumbled. Kayleen smirked, "Can it Jonas, where is my present?" Jonas chuckled, "all right, all right, but I think your dad will want to give it to you." Just as he said that, James came walking in, his hands hiding something behind his back. "Happy birthday, sweetheart," he said in a soft tone, "I can't believe you're already ten, but you are ready for some responsibility." He outstretched his arms in front of him, presenting her gift.

"Your very own BB gun!" he said happily. Kayleen's face lit up, then faltered. "We can't shoot that in here," she said almost dismayed, "You're absolutely right," James said, "the Overseer would be pounding down on us if we did, luckily, Jonas set up an area where you can practice shooting without the Overseer fussing." Kayleen grinned, took the gun and rushed down the hall to the room Jonas had set up for her with Lenore hurrying after.

The room contained a closed space with targets on loose poles. Kayleen seemed to stand still and think what to do. She then lifted the gun to her shoulder and shot at a target. As the BB hit it, a loud twang of metal hitting metal could be heard and the target spun around. Kayleen laughing in satisfaction and continued to fire at three more targets. Suddenly, an overly radiated roach came crawling into view. Everyone identified them as rad-roaches. After the nuclear war of 2077, radiation had left post-apocalyptic creatures huge, awkwardly deformed or worse, killers. The roach was behind the makeshift wall and was no danger, however.

"Watch out," said James, "a rad-roach. Maybe you can take it out with your BB gun." Kayleen smirked and lifted the gun to her shoulder as she closed in on the roach through her sights. Before pulling the trigger, she stopped, then smiled at Lenore and presented her with the BB gun. "You can do it," she said smiling brightly at her best friend.

[Veins Of Opal]

Lenore smiled a small smile, gingerly taking the gun from Kayleen. She eyed the Radroach warily, lining the sights on the gun with the over-grown roach's head. She pulled the trigger, and the BB flew, piercing through the roach's head, killing it.

Lenore smiled brightly, feeling quite proud for her first time. She handed the BB gun back to Kayleen, smiling sheepishly to James and Jonas, strands of her blonde hair falling forward. She flicked her eyes to Jonas as he got out a camera. "Picture time! Stand together!" he instructed cheerfully, and Lenore tentatively shuffled towards James and Kayleen for a picture.

[sharrrhea]

Kayleen brought her arm around Lenore's neck and pulled her close as James put his hand behind her back. Jonas held up the camera and counted backwards from 5. "Five...four...three...two...one... say cheese!"

As the flash of the camera faded away, Kayleen could see her dad moving a light away from her eyes. She was in the clinic. "That's it. You're a perfectly healthy sixteen year old girl. Now go take your G.O.A.T." Kayleen blinked in confusion. "But I didn't study!" James chuckled, "it isn't something you can study for, darling. Now go, you'll be late."

She stood and walked out still a bit puzzled. As she turned the corner, she saw Butch, rather handsome looking, wearing a leather jacket with a snake twisted on the back over his jumpsuit. He stood with two others, who she assumed to be Wally and Paul. As she walked over, Amata turned the corner and was surrounded by the three guys. Kayleen narrowed her eyes. This wasn't good.

The guys could clearly be heard addressing themselves as the tunnel snakes. "Tunnel Snakes? What is that supposed to be, some sort of gang?" Kayleen chimed in, taking the guys' attention from Amata. "You know damn well that the Tunnel Snakes are the toughest gang around here." Butch said loudly with an accent he had somehow acquired. "Leave Amata alone, you know if you don't, the Overseer will come crashing down on your 'gang'." Kayleen finished. Butch's lip twitched. "Fine, whatever. Tunnel Snakes out!"

[Veins Of Opal]

Lenore walked downn the hall, alongside Freddie, her brother, ad the "Tunnel Snakes" began to walk off. Wally pushed Freddie as the group passed, snickering and taunting as the walked off. Lenore helped Freddie up from the ground, dusting himself off. Lenore and Freddie walked towards Amata and Kayleen. "You ready for the test?" Lenore asked in her soft, quiet voice, bringing timid, blue eyes to her friend.

"I'm gonna go to the room." Freddie told Lenore, glancing at Amata and Kayleen as he walked off. Lenore had grown taller, with more "womanly" attributes. But, she remained the same, quiet girl. Her blonde, wavy hair had grown quite longer in the span of six years, and she had received her Pipboy, of course. She kept her distance, though, because she wasn't exactly best friends with Amata.

Amata seemed to dislike her for being related to "Freddie the Freak." She frowned, shaking her head of the sour thought and focusing her eyes back to Kayleen. She knew they should probably be heading to the classroom, but she certainly didn't mind procrastinating a bit.

[sharrrhea]

"ready for the G.O.A.T.?" Kayleen asked, patting Lenore's back. Amata nodded and walked in ahead of them. Mr. Brotch, the teacher, stood in the doorway. "Take your seats everyone, the test will start shortly." Kayleen took her seat in the front with an empty one behind her and Amata took the one behind that. Mr. Brotch took his place at the front of the room and began reading from his list of instructions he was practically programmed to say.

As the test started, the projector lit up with a picture for the first question.

Question 1

You are approached by a frenzied Vault scientist, who yells, "I'm going to put my quantum harmonizer in your photonic resonation chamber!" What's your response?

1.) "But doctor, wouldn't that cause a parabolic destabilization of the fission singularity?"

2.) "Yeah? Up yours too, buddy!"

3.) Say nothing, grab a nearby pipe and hit the scientist in the head to knock him out. For all you knew, he was planning to blow up the vault.

4.) Say nothing, but slip away before the scientist can continue his rant.

Kayleen smirked and chose the first response. Enough time spent around her father, she understood what this scientist was saying in his frenzy.

[Veins Of Opal]

As Lenore read the first question, she gave a small smile. She chose the fourth response, of course. Lenore was agile, silent, and stealthy. She could move without being heard. She'd often been able to sneak up on Kayleen, and she'd always remain hidden.

She flicked her eyes to the projector, awaiting the next question.

[sharrrhea]

Question 2

While working as an intern in the Clinic, a patient with a strange infection on his foot stumbles through the door. The infection is spreading at an alarming rate, but the doctor has stepped out for a while. What do you do?

1.) Amputate the foot before the infection spreads.

2.) Scream for help.

3.) Medicate the infected area to the best of your abilities.

4.) Restrain the patient, and merely observe as the infection spreads.

Kayleen chose the third answer. Knowing that the doctor was her father, he would be back soon, and she wouldn't want to make any mistakes. He would know what to do when he came back.

[Veins Of Opal]

Lenore twitched as she read the second question. She cocked a brow, and hesitantly chose the third option. She'd heard enough from James to know that would most likely be the smartest action.

[sharrrhea]

Question 3

You discover a young boy lost in the lower levels of the Vault. He's hungry and frightened, but also appears to be in possession of stolen property. What do you do?

1.) Give the boy a hug and tell him everything will be OK.

2.) Confiscate the property by force, and leave him there as punishment.

3.) Pick the boy's pocket to take the stolen property for yourself, and leave the boy to his fate.

4.) Lead the boy to safety, then turn him over to the overseer.

Kayleen read each answer slowly. She instantly knew which to choose, considering how she would never leave the boy there, option 2 and 3 were eliminated. Over time, Kayleen had been building up a sort of distaste for the Overseer. Even if she brought the child to him, he probably wouldn't have the common sense to act accordingly. She chose option 1.