Doctor 8

Doctor 8 is a pre-War acoustician operating at the Big MT in 2281.

Background
Doctor 8 is a pre-War doctor who became a think tank to continue his work at the Big MT. He has lost the ability to talk due to damage sustained to his voice module during an encounter with another visitor, Elijah. Instead, he transmits RobCo sound waves, which appears in subtitles as patterned RobCo terminal symbols. However, after passing a 75 Science check or a 7 Perception check, the Courier seems to understand his language, although this does not alter the subtitled text.

Quests

 * Old World Blues: If Klein can't be convinced otherwise, 8, along with 2 other members of the Think Tank, are needed to convince Klein to give up trying to escape the Big MT.
 * Picking Your Brains: After completing Welcome to the Big Empty, the player needs to talk to 8 and the rest of the think tanks to complete this quest.
 * Welcome to the Big Empty: The player has to talk to 8 as with the rest of the Think tank to complete the quest.
 * On the Same Wavelength: Though there is a language barrier between the player and Dr. 8, a Perception of 7 or a Science skill of 75 will enable communication with him.

Effects of player's actions
If the player has shown 8 the fully upgraded sonic emitter, and if the player doesn't have a 100 in Science or 85 in Medicine to convince Doctor Klein, 8 will side with the player in convincing Klein to back down.

Other interactions

 * Talking to 8 with a fully upgraded sonic emitter will please him immensely, and he will provide 100 energy cells out of gratitude.
 * Through a humorous dialogue involving him 'warming up' the sonic emitter, he will give the Courier microfusion cells (if female) or two containers of Cram and two duct tapes (if male). After completing the quest On the Same Wavelength, the player can speak to the doctor about what he did to the sonic emitter.
 * Sympathizing with his 'needs' will yield ten microfusion cells and a copy of "Tales of Chivalrie" (if female), or "La Fantoma!" (if male). Once a day, it is possible to ask him if he knows any good ways to "'pass' the 'time'" (a clear euphemism for masturbation), which will yield the same gift; however, asking him for something to "literally" pass the time yields an egg timer instead.
 * Consoling him by telling him that his urges are natural opens up the option to ask him if he has made any new discoveries, which will yield a copy of "Programmer's Digest," "Fixin' Things" and a sensor module.

Appearances
Doctor 8 appears only in the Fallout: New Vegas add-on, Old World Blues.

Behind the scenes
His name is a reference to infinity, as the number 8 is an infinite loop, and the symbol for infinity (∞) resembles a sideways "8". This is featured in a conversation with Doctor Mobius.