The residents of Vault 4 gather in anticipation, eager to witness the punishment of Lucy. Overseer Bob prepares to expel her from their sheltered existence, but not without a surprise. Maximus, dressed in his formidable power armor, powered by the vault's core, intervenes to save her from her apparent fate. He offers her the armor, intending to stay behind in Vault 4, and reveals his true identity, yet ultimately decides against his initial plan.
Meanwhile, Thaddeus abandons CX404 at a forlorn Red Rocket gas station, stumbling upon a portable radio. He uses it to search for a radio station, hoping to contact the Brotherhood. Unbeknownst to him, Lucy and Maximus are on his trail, catching up with him at the radio station. They learn the shocking truth that a Snake Oil Salesman transformed Thaddeus into a ghoul in a failed attempt to heal his broken foot.
With the Brotherhood's arrival looming, Maximus makes a crucial decision. He parts ways with Lucy, handing over a different decapitated head to the Brotherhood as a decoy, allowing Lucy to flee with the genuine one.
Elsewhere, in Vault 33, the vault's inhabitants are dividing, some moving to Vault 32. Amidst this chaos, Norm manages to gain access to Vault 31. Howard, meantime, uncovers Moldaver's whereabouts and stumbles across CX404 at the abandoned Red Rocket gas station.
In a haunting flashback, a younger Moldaver, then known as Ms. Williams, reveals the conspiracy surrounding Vault-Tec and their sinister plans. She entrusts Howard with a listening device, urging him to unearth the truth behind Vault-Tec's secrets and expose Barb's involvement.
