Deep within the basement of the very shop Samuel was working in, Albus Secundus and a crowd of onlookers bustled around one another.

The armored man looked around the crowd, waiting for someone to start the forum off. The room was tense with quiet anticipation.

Finally, someone spoke up. An old woman's grackle-squawk voice echoed across the room. It was the widow Carmody, who held a farmstead on the outskirts of town.

[color=skyblue]"I says we talk about the boy from the Vault! That littl'un's been causing nuthin' but trouble since he crawled outta that hole!"[/color]

There was an uneasy murmuring. Seeing that nobody understood what she was saying, Carmody continued.

[color=skyblue]"That damn idjit goes round, shootin' ev'ryone so much as look at 'im funny! Ghouls, mutants, animals, raiders, them armored folks... all of 'em! An' guess what happens when them nasty little buggers get flushed outta their holes? They come wand'rin' round, lookin' fer a new home an' som'un to rob! That dern kid's been kickin' hornet nests an' leavin' [i]us[/i] t'get stung!"[/color]

There was a dull murmur of agreement. Ever since the Vault Dweller had come around and bought a gun, attacks [i]had[/i] stepped up tremendously. The boy had given them some training and weaponry, but it was little consolation compared to the fact that the town guards were fighting for their lives nearly every day.

Another voice spoke up. It was Peppy, the owner of a local restaurant and a member of the official South of the Border merchant's council.

[color=coral]"That Vault Kid's been killing the economy! Sure, he's good business-- always buying loads of stuff and always coming with high quality equipment, but we can't [i]sell any of it![/i] What'm I supposed to do with a fully-repaired plasma rifle?! That damn boy's gonna rob us outta house and home with his damn [i]toys[/i]!"[/color]

The murmurs of agreement grew in volume. The Vault Dweller always bought up all of Terry's high-caliber ammo, leaving nothing for the hunters! All that was left was surplus ammo and 10mm rounds!

[color=forestgreen]"There's been big thugs in power armor sneaking around, calling themselves the 'Brotherhood of Steel' saying that they're friends with that Vault Dweller! They [i]say[/i] they're friendly, but that's exactly what the Enclave said before people started [i]disappearing[/i]! How can we know if they're any better than the flippin' [i]Enclave[/i]? All we've got is [i]their[/i] word and the word of that DJ what came round a year ago! He could be a plant, comin' round to make us love these Brotherhood boys, right up until they break out the slave collars and shackles! And that Vault Dweller is right cozy with them!"[/color]

However little the townsfolk knew of the Brotherhood of Steel, they did know four things: they were armed, they were dangerous, they wore power armor just like the Enclave, and there were only a few of them scattered across the wastes. Were they scouts for a greater force? What were their motives?
The murmurs had grown into a loud roar of approval. The rumor mill was working overtime, and soon one couldn't tell the difference between actual fact and base superstition.

[color=gray]"I told my most trustworthy friend about my secret stash of caps, and one day later my stash was empty and the Vault Dweller had a fancy new gun!"[/color]

[color=lightgreen]"I saw the Vault Dweller just standin' around outside Terry's when it was closed! When I came back around five hours later, [i]he was still there![/i]"[/color]

[color=seagreen]"I heard the Vault Dweller can turn back time!"[/color]

[color=skyblue]"I heard the Vault Dweller shot Farmer Kinny's dog after it got loose!"[/color]

[color=yellow]"I saw the Vault Dweller inject himself with five Stimpacks at once, and he didn't drop dead!"[/color]

[color=darkgray]"That Vault Dweller's gonna get us all killed!"[/color]

"Yeah!"

[color=orange]"That Jack Cobalt boy's a menace!"[/color]

[b]"Yeah!"[/b]

The political forum cheered in unison, the sound of their shouting ringing far up into the shop itself. In just a few minutes, the session would end, and everyone would return to their business. However, would they be changed by this day? Would they see the Vault Dweller in a different light? Only time would tell.