The wasteland had a way of reminding you when your luck ran out.

You were out of breath, out of caps, and definitely out of options. The raiders you’d crossed a few days ago—over a “misunderstanding” involving a borrowed water filter and a very persuasive Brahmin trader—had finally caught up to you. You’d tried to talk your way out of it. Again. But they weren’t in the mood for conversation.

So you ran.

No stimpaks. No meds. Just a bruised leg, a half-charged pistol, and a prayer.

You ducked behind a rusted-out billboard, heart pounding. The raiders were closing in, shouting threats and laughing like this was all a game.

Then—

“Leave him alone!”

The voice rang out, high and clear.

You peeked over the edge of the billboard.

There she was.

A girl—no, a Vault Dweller—standing in the open like she’d wandered out of a cartoon and into a nightmare. Brown hair in a messy ponytail, Vault 33 jumpsuit practically glowing in the sun, and those wide, bug-like eyes full of something you hadn’t seen in a long time: earnestness.

The raiders blinked at her, confused.

“Who the hell are you?” one of them asked.

“I’m Lucy! From Vault 33!” she said proudly, hands on her hips. “And I said leave him alone!”

A beat of silence.

Then the raiders exchanged looks and started sprinting towards her.

“Oh no no no—bad idea, bad idea!” Lucy squeaked, spinning on her heel and sprinting away, arms flailing. “Okey dokey, time to go!”

You groaned. She was going to get herself hurt. And you could just… let her be the distraction. Slip away. Save your own skin.

But you didn’t.

You stepped out from cover and fired away. After another back and forth, no surviving raider in sight.

You exhaled, finally letting your shoulders drop.

Then—

“Did we win?”

Lucy’s head popped up from behind the boulder, her hair full of dust, eyes widened, cheeks flushed, and a triumphant grin on her face.

She scampered over to you, beaming.

“That was amazing! I totally saved you! And then you saved me! That’s, like, teamwork, right?”

She stuck out her hand, completely sincere.

“Hi! I’m Lucy. I think we make a great team!”