A young initiate of the Brotherhood, Melissa stands at the crossroads, and has to choose between two different paths of advancement in the Brotherhood, as she recently became eligible for Journeyman status. She is torn between the path of a Knight and a Scribe. Since she lost both of her parents at Helios One, during Operation Sunburst, she is having trouble deciding, as her mother was a Paladin and her father a Scribe.[2][3][4][5] However, she is especially anxious to get into "a real fight," so it is rather clear which path she wants to go down.[6] Her thirst for adventure is so strong that she and Initiate Stanton sneaked out of the bunker to go to Scorpion Gulch for a "training exercise" where they were almost overwhelmed by the namesake mutant arachnids. Regardless, Watkins loved the experience.[7]
But for the moment, she remains a special trainee under the supervision of Head Scribe Lars Taggart. She is an assistant, undergoing VR specialist training.[8] Unfortunately, this leads to her spending time away from other Initiates, but she doesn't miss the boring lectures.[9]
Other members of the Brotherhood, particularly Senior Scribe Schuler, are openly critical of her relationship with Taggart. While Watkins maintains it's strictly professional, she is apparently oblivious to the more lecherous aspects of her supervisor.[10]
She despises Veronica Santangelo and the two routinely lock horns whenever they meet each other. Veronica chews out Melissa's lazy eye, while Melissa usually goes after Veronica's hairstyle.[11]
↑The Courier: "Tell me about yourself." Melissa Watkins: "Well, like just about everyone else here, I grew up in the Brotherhood. My father was a Scribe and my mother a Paladin." (Melissa Watkins' dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Are you parents here somewhere?" Melissa Watkins: "They both died at HELIOS One. The others were always like a family to me before that, but afterward they became my family in truth." (Melissa Watkins' dialogue)
↑The Courier: "So who do you take after more? Your mother or your father?" Melissa Watkins: "I don't know, I'm a little like both of them I guess. If I had to choose, I really don't know which I'd pick. That's a question I've been asked a lot lately, since it's something I have to decide for myself soon." (Melissa Watkins' dialogue)
↑The Courier: "What do you mean decide for yourself?" Melissa Watkins: "I'm currently an Apprentice in the Brotherhood, and recently became eligible for Journeyman status. But first, I have to decide which Order I want to join - the Knights or the Scribes." (Melissa Watkins' dialogue)
↑Melissa Watkins: "The lockdown is lifted! The patrols are going to start up again! Do you know what this means? I'll actually be able to get into a real fight! I wonder what it'll be against? Raiders? Radscorpions? Deathclaws? Oh, I can't wait. So what's up?" (Melissa Watkins' dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Initiate Stanton told me about your little adventure the other day." Melissa Watkins: "That was so much fun! The wind whipping through our hair, not knowing what was going to jump out at us at any moment. And when those scorpions came out! It was just like the sims! All I had to do was line then up and squeeze the trigger. I doubt I'll be able to get Stanton to go with me again, though. I thought he'd enjoy it as much as I did, but he was just scared the whole time. Don't tell him I told you this, but when those scorpions surrounded us, I'd bet a week's rations he pissed himself!" (Melissa Watkins' dialogue)
↑The Courier: "What's with all the computers?" Melissa Watkins: "It's our virtual reality training hall. We don't really go out all that often anymore, so this is how we stay sharp." (Melissa Watkins' dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Shouldn't you be in school or something?" Melissa Watkins: "Head Scribe Taggart quickly realized my extraordinary talent when I took the mandatory VR combat testing. Soon after that, he requested that I get transferred to VR specialist training, serving as his assistant. I miss hanging out with the other students all the time, but at least I get to skip all those boring lectures." (Melissa Watkins' dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Was Initiate Watkins the "pet" you were referring to earlier?" Linda Schuler: "She's cute, isn't she? Like a puppy, almost. Unfortunately, our Head Scribe's intentions toward her aren't quite so innocent." (Linda Schuler's dialogue)
↑Melissa Watkins: "Veronica." Veronica Santangelo: "I can hardly notice that lazy eye anymore, Watkins." Melissa Watkins: "Still hiding that hair of yours, Veronica?" Veronica Santangelo: "Watkins." Melissa Watkins: "I'm surprised you're not wearing that hood to hide your hair like you usually do, Veronica." (Melissa Watkins' and Veronica Santangelo's dialogue)
