[center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4jondX6tg[/youtube][/center]

[center][b]Arnold 'Ray' Dow
Vault 216[/b][/center]

Ray packed the last of his things in his room and sighed as he looked around the gray and lifeless room. His wandering eyes rest upon Jessie and he smiled. The young musician walked over to the curved instrument and picked her up. She was an acoustic, with a sun-kissed paint job, a Martin. She was a true beauty. Ray examined the strap attached to her, Vault-Tec's yellow logo printed over and over on it on a blue background. Favor from a friend, who was in charge of all fabric and clothing. He simply couldn't leave her, he knew the other guys would give him shit for bringing her, but if one thing would keep his hopes up out there it would be music.

"I still think this is an awful idea." 

The stern voice cracked out from his bedroom doorway and he sighed.

"I know Ma."

"What would your father say?"

"He'd say...I don't know. I always found him hard to read."

Ray turned around to face his mother and was surprised to see tears in her eyes. She was always so tough and yet, despite the tears in her eyes, she had an expression of defiance. A ghost of a smile graced his face and walked over to her, pulling her into a tight hug. "I'll be fine, Ma." he murmured.

"I already lost your father. I can't lose you too..."

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ray tightened the leather straps that held what little armor he had on and slung Jessica over his shoulder, she bounced lightly against his back. His pack was small as it is, so Jessica had plenty of room. The 10mm he was assigned sat snugly in his thigh holster, recently polished and maintained by him. He sincerely hoped he wouldn't need it. On his walk to the vault door, people were wishing him luck, saying they would pray for him, saying they would attend his funeral, or simply nothing at all. Ray glimpsed Lyla briskly walk past him, without looking at him. He thought he saw a mask of pain on her face. And all too soon, he was at the door, with the others. Ray looked back at his home and steeled himself. 

"Well, I guess this is it."

"Let's Rock 'n' Roll."