Fallout fans connect the dots on Cooper Howard’s transformation into a Ghoul from a detail in season 2’s premiere.

Some fans of Fallout speculate that a certain city mentioned in the series, which would later evolve into New California, holds the key to uncovering the fate of Cooper Howard and his family.

Warning: Spoilers for Fallout season 2 episode 1 ahead!

One fan shared an intriguing theory: “Cooper mentions Bakersfield in episode 1, season 2. Could this be how he became a ghoul? Are his ex and daughter also ghoulified? The vault door was intentionally faulty in Vault 12, located in Bakersfield.”

Vault 12 first appeared in the original Fallout game, marketed by Vault-Tec as a luxurious shelter equipped with every possible amenity for its residents. However, the truth was far more sinister; the vault door was designed to malfunction, leading to the transformation of its survivors into Ghouls due to prolonged exposure to radiation. This vault is situated in Bakersfield, where Cooper and his daughter Janey travel after he discovers that his wife Barb might be involved in the impending apocalypse.

This theory certainly has merit. In this universe, anything is possible. However, Barb holds a significant position at Vault-Tec and has access to the management vaults, which are designed to safeguard the highest-ranking officials and their families. This makes it plausible that Barb and Janey could find refuge there. If this is the case, it raises questions about how Cooper became a Ghoul. It’s likely that when the bombs fell, Barb and Janey made it to the vaults without him, leaving him exposed to the radiation outside. The Ghoul seems to believe that Barb and Janey are still alive and holds onto the hope that they escaped the transformation by reaching a management vault in time. As we progress through season 2, it will be interesting to see how this unfolds.