The vaults of Fallout 4 led many citizens to fall prey to the experiments of Vault-Tec, a corporation offering respite from the nuclear fallout only to present more dangers beneath the ground. For the game's Sole Survivor, their unknowing subjection to cryogenic sleep felt tame in comparison to the other vaults across the Commonwealth; from Vault 75's massacre of parents and teachers leaving orphaned children to undergo a 'genetic refinement' process, to Vault 81's medical experimentation, thwarted luckily by a kinder Overseer than most, these bunkers were a terrifying example of how far Vault-Tec could go in the name of science.
Fallout 4's Vault 95 was no exception to this rule, though its experiment would leave its inhabitants none the wiser, at least for their first five years underground. The vault was home to pre-war addicts, whose chem dependencies made them prime subjects for the vault's 'rehabilitation program', offering a haven to ween off their addictions with the support of a community undergoing the same struggles. The process worked throughout the years, aided by daily meetings and the formation of a close-knit group akin to family, as noted by a former vault dweller. That all changed when a Vault-Tec agent, disguised as a fellow addict in remission, took one devastating step to further the corporation's experimentation goals.
Fallout 4's Vault 95 Sets a Terrifying Example of Vault-Tec's Methods
The agent went on to release a stash of hidden drugs located inside the vault, with the intention for it to be discovered by the other residents. The aftermath was a bloody one, as some of Vault 95's inhabitants fell back into their urges, resorting to violence to get their fix. Others, like the user whose terminal logs can be read, held out for as long as possible before succumbing, noting anger and despondency over what Vault-Tec had done. Their final log accentuates just how devastating the situation truly was, as they note leaving their hiding place with the aims of "finding something to cope" and seeing their friends once again if any are left standing.
As Fallout 4's Sole Survivor explores Vault 95, the corpses of those under Vault-Tec's rehabilitation program can be found all over, surrounded by chems, alcohol bottles, and in some cases, weaponry. Near the vault's fission generator lies a small group of these bodies, where a closer look at the surrounding debris paints an even more terrifying picture, as a large baby bottle can be found among the deceased. Another room with chairs situated in a circle, likely to have been used for the vault's support meetings, shows the remains of its addicts slumped over, having met their end together.
The exploration into Vault 95 shows a community built from the struggles of the world now shattered through Vault-Tec's ulterior motives, furthering the impact of their experimentation and the cost of such methods. Fans have speculated over the fate of the surviving vault dwellers, where it could be likely that some were able to resist the drugs and go on to live aboveground. Given the number of chems scattered across Fallout 4's Commonwealth and the violence of its wasteland, however, survival in such a case would be no easy task.
The vaults of the Fallout series have painted a rather grim depiction of Vault-Tec's experiments, providing interesting yet dark narratives to aid in the games' environmental story-telling. Fallout 5 will likely see a return of such experiments, detailing new and horrific ways that the corporation will mislead its vault dwellers. If the vaults of Fallout 4 are any indication, then the citizens of the next mainline game will have a tough time surviving beyond the nuclear fallout, though only time will tell what atrocities they may have to endure.
Fallout 4 is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
