Fawkes

Fawkes is an East Coast-type Super Mutant with the distinction of having retained his civility and intellectual capacity through the rigors of mutation.

Location
Fawkes pleads with the Lone Wanderer to be released from Isolation Room 05, a cell in Vault 87 in which he has resided for as long as memory permits. Fawkes also claims that he was able to attain literacy and a civilized personality (things most super mutants sorely lack) by gleaning as much information as possible from the vault's immense online database. Fawkes also credits his intimate knowledge of Vault 87 to possibly being a resident there before being transformed into a super mutant, further indicated by the fact that he wears a Vault 87 Jumpsuit that has torn from him outgrowing it while mutating.

In exchange for release, Fawkes retrieves the Garden of Eden Creation Kit device from a radioactive section of the vault, and then bids the Lone Wanderer farewell. After the Lone Wanderer is incapacitated and taken to Raven Rock, home of the Enclave, Fawkes suddenly appears, and repels the enclave soldiers with an acquired Gatling Laser to aid the player's escape. Any items given to Fawkes before the trip to Raven Rock will be gone when he is encountered yet again, presumably discarded in favor of his new weapon.

Depending on the player's karma, Fawkes may agree to accompany the player on future travels as a companion. If the player's karma is too low, or if the player fires him at any time, Fawkes can be later found wandering around the entrance to Underworld, located in the Museum of History. Fawkes may also return if left by his lonesome for a significant length of time. If you maintain positive karma, you have the option of recruiting him again.

When the Lone Wanderer is faced with the climactic decision at the conclusion of the game, Fawkes politely declines to enter the radioactive room in lieu of the player (even though he is immune to radioactivity), stating that the decision is the player's destiny and not his. However, if the player has the Broken Steel add-on installed, the option to send Fawkes in will appear, allowing the player to opt out of entering themselves or Sentinel Sarah Lyons.

Equipment

 * Fawkes is clad in a tattered Vault Suit, and wields by default either a Super Sledge or a unique Gatling Laser with infinite ammo.


 * The Super Sledge is called "Fawkes' Super Sledge". It does 37 damage, comes in near perfect condition and can be repaired with regular Super Sledges. It is possible to take the sledge from him without killing him. To get it, simply offer to trade equipment and take it he will automatically equip a normal sledge hammer upon exiting dialog.


 * NOTE: Fawkes' Super Sledge can be shot out of his hands by enemy gunfire. If this occurs, you can run right over and pick it up. Upon dropping his Super Sledge, he immediately equips himself with a regular sledgehammer. (Observed almost immediately after rescuing him from Vault 87 on X-Box 360)


 * The player cannot equip Fawkes with different clothing, though his staggeringly large health bar and damage rate are more than enough for almost any situation. He can carry a total of 229 pounds of equipment.

Combat

 * Fawkes is extremely resilient thanks to the inherent thick skin natural to super mutants (or 'Meta-Humans' in Fawkes's own words). Coupled with the awesome Gatling Laser, Fawkes is arguably the player's most powerful ally in the game, able to withstand several direct missile hits or even a mini-nuke before dying. He can also be instructed as to which weapon to equip (Super Sledge, Gatling laser, non-default gun, energy weapons, explosive and even unarmed weapons that he has ammunition for), and on which tactics to utilize in battle (stay close or hang back).


 * Fawkes is unable to wear armor, but this is balanced out by him having significantly more health than most other NPC Companions. Only Star Paladin Cross is more durable, and only if you equip her with the T-51b Power Armor or 100% Hellfire Armor if you have Broken Steel.


 * Fawkes is also highly skilled in all weapon categories (small guns, big guns, energy weapons, explosives, melee weapons, and unarmed). In contrast, most other NPC companions are only skilled in two weapon categories, i.e. small guns and melee weapons for Jericho and Clover, or small guns and explosives for Charon.


 * Unlike other humanoid companions, Fawkes does not appear to be able to sneak and as such is not the best choice for stealthy characters, but this is rarely a problem since all enemy attention is directed at Fawkes when the player is sneaking and it is still possible(and actually easier) to get sneak critical hits.

Quotes
Fawkes shares many sentences with the regular Super Mutants, but also features many unique quotes of his own, often referring to his and Uncle Leo's possible Zen philosophy.

General Combat End of fight
 * "If you insist but DO be careful, I can hardly repay Your kindness by waiting back here." - When told to wait.
 * "Yes, by all means, LET'S!" - While offering to trade equipment.
 * "Something... troubling you, my friend?" - When opening a dialogue conversation with Fawkes.
 * "You have something to say?" - When opening a dialogue conversation with Fawkes.
 * "What have you got on your mind?" - When opening a dialogue conversation with Fawkes.
 * "Nothing but echoes from the past" - Heard when entering a power station building with the typical desk and old computers, etc.
 * "It saddens me to see you act like this, friend." - Said when player has recruited Fawkes, and Karma level falls below good or very good level.
 * "I'm sorry it had to come to this. Goodbye, friend." - Said when the player attacks Fawkes until he becomes hostile.
 * "It's amazing people trust you enough not to attack me..." - Seemingly random, also when player encounters 'friendly' humans in various locations.
 * "In all things, a calm heart must prevail."
 * "There are times... I feel... The primal part of me...PULLING ME AWAY" - At random moments.
 * "There is safety, in mindfulness."
 * "The air smells... dangerous." - When an enemy is detected.
 * "Be aware of the present moment" - When an enemy is detected.
 * "Huh... a noise?" - When an enemy is detected.
 * "Be aware of our surroundings." - Random
 * "Our steps must be measured." - Random
 * "And I shall FOLLOW!" - When player says "lets go"
 * "Though we may seem safe for the moment...it is fleeting!" - while traversing ruins and other potentially hostile areas.
 * "AAAAAAAAIIIEEEEEEE!!!!!"
 * "Just...stand...STILL!"
 * "Just...get...OUT!"
 * "Get away! Get away!"
 * "No more games... TIME TO DIE!" - When starting a fight.
 * "Now you went and GOT ME MAD!" - When starting a fight.
 * "Die, metal man!" - When Fawkes is fighting a robot or a Power Armored opponent
 * "You're here, you're here, STOP HIDING!" - When searching for enemies.
 * "Now, try and hide..FROM THIS!" - When initiating combat.
 * "That was barely a fight!"
 * "That was TOO EASY!"
 * "Next time, put up a fight!"
 * "YOU LOSE!"
 * "I win again!"
 * "HA, HA, HA! TOO FUN!!!"
 * "Aw... I wanted a fight" - If the Player kills the opposing enemy before Fawkes does.
 * "Your death is my victory!"
 * "Now I release you." - When Fawkes kills a fellow "Meta-Human". (Has been said when the player kills a Deathclaw but Fawkes has done significant damage).
 * "Be thankful I was merciful." - When Fawkes kills a fellow "Meta-Human". (Has been said when the player kills a Deathclaw but Fawkes has done significant damage).
 * "OK! Who's Next?"
 * "I promise this will be swift, but PAINFUL!"
 * "Your time here is done!"
 * "I'm just getting warmed up!"
 * "It saddens me that it has come to this. Farewell, my friend." -"Dialogue" when speaking with Fawkes when he is hostile to the player. (Speech ends immediately after, no response options, fight continues)
 * "Ahh...it was nothin'."

Bugs

 * If you have a vault or science theme active at your Megaton house, avoid going to bed with Fawkes following you. If you do, it is possible that you will become trapped, because your robotic butler will be standing in the bedroom doorway behind Fawkes, and it is not possible to push both of them out of the way at the same time, as you can with just one character. If absolutely necessary, a problem like this can be solved by firing Fawkes, at which point he will begin to walk out of the house towards Underworld. At this point it is possible to catch up to and re-hire him.  On the PC, you can also use toggle collision (tcl) code in the console to clip past Fawkes. On the PS3 version, loading the auto-save from sleeping will sometimes move Fawkes to the stairs.


 * If the player does not release Fawkes from Isolation Room 05 and retrieves the G.E.C.K. on his/her own, Fawkes will still be in that cell if the player ever decides to return. Later, if you talk to Fawkes through the intercom, it will cause a dialogue conversation that was meant to happen when you escaped Raven Rock. Despite being locked up (and in fact, even if you insulted him pledged not to release him), he thanks you for rescuing him and, the player's karma permitting, Fawkes can glitch out of the cell and then follow you normally through the course of the game.  This is handy for players who couldn't find a way to release Fawkes to begin with. However, in some cases Fawkes will not be carrying a Gatling laser, and will use only a super sledge in combat.
 * It is also possible that in Vault 87, if you do not release Fawkes and get the G.E.C.K. yourself but open the doors as Fawkes instructs that after completing the main storyline (And having the Broken Steel DLC) that Fawkes can be seen in the Citadel walking around. If you speak to him he will act like he is following you but when you respond with "Let's go" he will continue to walk around aimlessly and not follow the player. (Happened with a "Very Evil" karma rating)


 * It is possible that even after rescue, Fawkes will remain in Vault 87 somewhere either outside Isolation Room 05, near the G.E.C.K. room, or somewhere in between, and not meet you outside Raven Rock. If you go back to the Vault and find Fawkes your dialog options will be the same as they are right outside Raven Rock.


 * If Fawkes is fired in the presence of Liberty Prime the robot will start attacking him and almost always kill him as Fawkes will fire back. He will apparently not respawn after words.


 * It is also possible for Fawkes to glitch outside of Raven Rock. If the player had a companion and they were not dismissed before being taken to Raven Rock, Fawkes will accept an invitation (Karma permitting) but remain rooted to the ground inside the Raven Rock gates.


 * Fawkes may sometimes keep his Gatling Gun out, and just hold it in his hand, instead of putting it away after combat.


 * When you first meet Fawkes, he may have two copies of 'Fawkes' Super Sledge' for you to take (if you're feeling particularly greedy).


 * Sometimes when you are fighting something and Fawkes is shooting it and you walk through a door at the same time and then go back you will hear the gatling laser firing, but Fawkes will not be shooting.


 * The gatling laser floats at the side of Fawkes but will not be holding it.


 * When you leave your Megaton House and go directly down the hill to the Megaton Clinic, Fawkes may sometimes get stuck at the bottom and when you try to push him out, or you leave him there for a few moments, he will become hostile or even die.


 * After being fired, Fawkes can be found at the Project Purity (just outside the force field) instead of the Museum of History (bad pathfinding?).


 * If Fawkes is fired right after entering the Jefferson Memorial during Take It Back!, he might appear standing on top of the entrance and will be unable to re-hire. (Possibly occurs if Broken Steel is installed)

Related quests

 * Finding the Garden of Eden

Appearances
Fawkes first appears in Fallout 3.

Behind the Scenes

 * Contrary to a comment about Fawkes' gender made by his voice actor, lead designer Emil Pagliarulo has confirmed "No, Fawkes was absolutely a male. This was a mistake. Wes gave an interview and he was mistaken. Trust me, Fawkes is and was male."
 * Confusion sometimes ensues concerning a computer entry about a female occupant of Fawkes's cell, Subject D624. Confusion is caused by the vagueness of the results of the occupant of that cell, whether or not the formerly female occupant mentally degenerated and was terminated like the others.  Later entries on the same computer indicate that all test subjects were destroyed after failure, so Fawkes was put in the cell some time afterwards.
 * Fawkes's previous gender could have been verified before the debate over his gender by examining his tattered Vault Suit: The seams match the configuration of the Male vault suit.


 * Fawkes is without a doubt a former Vault 87 resident since he wears a Vault Tec issued 87 jumpsuit, and that if the player asks about him Fakwes will say that he does remember walking in hallways with other humans in white and blue uniforms. Other than this, his identity is nothing more than a mystery. It may be possible that a boy mentioned in two terminals might be Fawkes: Jason Stevens.  On Peter Stevens' terminal (near the entrance), he lamentes the death of his son Jason.  Later, on a medical lab terminal, Jason Stevens is listed amongst the "Unexplained Deaths" (which is implied to be victims of kidnappings for subjecting to FEV tests).


 * It is unknown when Fawkes was turned into a mutant. He could have been transformed from before the bombs fell, to after the Super Mutants took over the Vault. But it is confirmed that he was a former resident and not a kidnapped Wastelander. Also, he does mention how he remembers walking amongst the other humans in Vault uniforms, so he was obviously alive at the time the Vault was "normal".


 * Much of the random dialogue heard from Fawkes as one wanders around can be heard as simple wasteland survival advice, but also references Zen philosophy. Examples include "Be aware of the present moment" and "There is safety in mindfulness".  Together with Uncle Leo's Zen reference, this suggests that Zen Buddhism (or perhaps more specifically, the measured and balanced mental state promoted by Zen Buddhism) may be a means to retaining a level of independent mental functioning after EEP transformation.

Trivia

 * Fawkes' name is derived from the famous Guy Fawkes, a 16th century English Catholic restorationist famed for his involvement in an assassination attempt known as the Gunpowder Plot, as stated by Fawkes when asked about his name.


 * Fawkes and Uncle Leo are the only two Super Mutants in the game that are friendly to the player, and have their own unique outfit separate from every other Super Mutant.