Sydney

 is a relic hunter the player will meet when hunting for the Declaration of Independence in the year 2277.

Background
As a child, Sydney was abandoned when her farther was killed during a weapons trade off at the statesmen's hotel. She had to wander D.C. alone, but she was able to handle herself because her father had taught her how to handle and maintain guns, and to upgrade them since she was young. Sydney then became a relic hunter and did some work for Abraham Washington.

Interactions with the player character
During Stealing Independence the player has the option of recruiting her as a temporary follower. If she survives the quest and gets to Rivet City, she will retire from relic hunting and become an ammunition vendor in Underworld after the PC and Sydney receive their reward from Abraham Washington. Sydney will travel to the Ninth Circle in Underworld, where she will become an ammo dealer. The quality of what she sells is a notch above much of the items of other vendors. She will usually have several good condition weapons and will have lots of ammo in stock. Next to Flak and Shrapnel and Knight Captain Durga--and maybe Lucky Harith and Lock and Load (after you invest)-- she is one of the best weapon dealers. It is highly suggested that you try to keep her alive at all costs, so that she can become a dealer. If you really want her Ultra SMG, try to find the note from her father, before resorting to killing her. If you get into a fight in the Underworld, Sydney will fight alongside you. Also if you have the the holotape from her dad you can get her unique SMG.

Related Quests

 * Stealing Independence
 * A Note from Little Moonbeam's Father

Sydney's Father Quest
In the Statesman Hotel (Mid Level) (rescuing Reilly's Rangers) you'll find A Note from Little Moonbeam's Father, which is directed to Sydney from her father. Show the Holodisk to her and she will give you her Sydney's 10mm "Ultra" SMG and a supply of ammo.

Appearances
only appears in Fallout 3.

Behind the scenes
is based on character Sydney Fox from the TV show Relic Hunter.

Bugs

 * On the Xbox 360 Version, nine players reported that Sydney was nowhere to be found in the game. (It is possible that she got stuck in one of the cells when she exited the cell The Lone Wanderer was in. Follow her route out of Rivet City, into Anacostia Crossing Station, to Museum Station and into Underworld. It is likely that you will come across her somewhere there, or perhaps her body, if you haven't cleared those areas then she might be lost to the raiders inhabiting them. It is also possible that Sydney is killed by patrolling Super Mutants in the National Mall.  On several occasions, Sydney will exit the Museum Station from the Museum of Technology exit (diagonally across from the Museum of History).  This is problematic since she has to traverse through the center of the National Mall where the majority of the Super Mutants gather.  If she decides to take this path, she will usually die from minigun fire. (Tested on the PS3 version)


 * Even after giving Sydney the holotape from her father, she still hopes he "got what he deserved" in the wastes.


 * Sometimes, Sydney will appear to have no hair.


 * On the Xbox 360 Version when she walks into The Museum Of History she sometimes gets stuck on the stand where the Dinosaur Skeleton is. (2 players can confirm this)
 * Sometimes on the Xbox 360 version, on her way to Underworld, she will stop halfway through the Museum Station. If you attack her during this situation, you can still talk to her, despite the fact that she is hostile and attacking you.
 * 1) On PC it happened to me, she hangs halfway through the Museum Station. Seems to be a pathing problem, I tried to talk to her, but the dialog was the same as after the quest and after giving the Declaration to Abraham Washington.
 * 2) I then tried to wait (button 'T') one hour. After that she tried again to move, but immediately hung again.
 * 3) Then I left the Museum Station. A moment later Sydney came out. NPCs do not travel via path, when the cell is inactive, obviously. The teleport from waypoint to waypoint. I do not know, if a fight happens even if there are hostile NPCs in the cell, but the player is not in the same cell. I believe, such things only happen, if the player character is in the same cell. But in this case Museum Station was empty anyway. Sydney got into 3 fights with Super mutants in the mall, and there I was able to help. Again I am not sure what would have happened, if I had simply waited or slept in Rivet City - I think Sydney would arrive in Underworld, but I did not test it.

Keeping Sydney as a Follower
If you wish to keep her as an extra NPC you can do so easily. She will stay with you as long as you do not complete the Stealing Independence Quest. So do not return to Abraham Washington.
 * A few drawbacks with her as an NPC:
 * She cannot be equipped with any new weapons or armor (although her default 10mm "Ultra" SMG and Combat Armor are pretty good equipment).
 * She cannot be given any items to hold.
 * She cannot be mezzed.
 * She can be pickpocket(not a follower yet and no super mutants attacking) but she will not equip any armor that you put in her pocket and she will not equip any weapons that you put in her pocket.
 * She can die permanently (which has the benefit of your being able to pick up her 10mm "Ultra" SMG, Combat Armor, and her 400 cap reward from Abraham Washington).
 * She cannot be told to change tactics.
 * Although she can initially be told to wait, she will refuse to obey this order if you are holding the Declaration of Independence.
 * Although she has more health than a Talon Company Merc or Brotherhood of Steel Paladin, she's still less durable than a normal NPC companion and can be downed relatively easily.
 * Unlike real followers, she does not heal to full at the end of a successful battle. You can still give her stimpaks by talking to her, which she will use immediately. Your medicine skill doesn't affect the amount of damage she heals, so use them sparingly (Confirmed with 100 Medicine Skill: Health went up only small amounts).
 * Her limbs cannot be healed with stimpaks, so if she gets crippled (which is inevitable after she takes enough damage), she'll be so permanently.
 * Unlike with permanent NPC followers, the game will not inform you if Sydney dies. It is possible to lose track of her and not realize she has been killed, especially in large firefights or if she gets separated from you by a large distance.
 * Sydney remains in Vault 87 if she is following the player when they are captured by the Enclave, which forces you to return to Vault 87 and retrieve her after escaping. It's best not to bring her into Vault 87, instead asking her to wait somewhere you can easily retrieve her (i.e. inside your house in Megaton/Tenpenny Tower, or simply in front of the Little Lamplight entrance).