Harkness, also known as A3-21, is an Android and Rivet City's security chief in the year 2277. His past is scattered across the Capital Wasteland for the Lone Wanderer to find, and decide what fate will befall him.
Background
Harkness was created in the year 2242.
Rivet City's hard-nosed security chief, 35-year-old Harkness is a good guy and a good friend, despite his demeanor. What he doesn't know is that he isn't even human; he's a sentient humanoid robot who escaped from his creators and had his mind wiped. Harkness is extremely fair-minded. He treats Hangar Deck citizens with the same regard as Upper Deck citizens. As a result, he is very well liked by the Hanger Deck residents.[1]
Harkness is a synthetic humanoid, or "Synth", and is the most advanced android ever created by The Institute, as of 2277. He worked for the Synth Retention Bureau in the Commonwealth, before attempting to escape after sympathizing with the escaped synths he was tasked to capture. The synths working at the Synth Retention Bureau are told that those who try to escape are simply malfunctioning, when in actuality their complex AI has allowed them to start thinking for themselves. The synths that Harkness captured filled his head with ideas about self-determination and freedom, contributing to his decision to escape. “Self determination is NOT a malfunction,” as Harkness would later say in a holotape before escaping.
He successfully escaped the Commonwealth but was hunted by the Synth Retention Bureau, and had to get surgery to get a new face and voice, as well as having his memory erased, in order to thwart the Bureau and start a new life. After some searching he found Horace Pinkerton, a skilled surgeon who agreed to perform the facial construction surgery and memory swap. After this, he got a job at Rivet City as the security chief.
Daily schedule
During the day, Harkness will be outside Flak 'N Shrapnel's weapon store in the Rivet City marketplace. He may be on the top floor of the Bridge Tower from midnight to 6:00 a.m. When meeting him for the first time, if you tell him you are going to leave, he'll be stuck at the entrance for the rest of the game. However, the player can still walk past him without incident.
Interactions with the player character
Interactions overview
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
  |
This character is essential. Essential characters cannot be killed. | |
  |
This character is a permanent companion. | |
  |
This character is a temporary companion. | |
  |
This character starts quests. |
- |
  |
This character is involved in quests. | |
  |
This character is a doctor. |
|
  |
This character is a merchant. |  -Sells: - |
  |
This character can repair items. | Max Repair condition: - |
  |
This character rents beds. | -.
|
  |
This character drops an ear upon death (Contract Killer). | |
  |
This character drops a finger upon death (Lawbringer). | |
  |
This character can be enslaved with the Mesmetron. | |
Other interactions
- When first arriving at Rivet City Harkness will demand you to state your business in Rivet City before he allows you to enter. But no matter what you choose to answer, he lets you in.
Quests
- The Replicated Man: Harkness turns out to be the android which Dr. Zimmer is looking for. The Lone Wanderer can make a choice to either help Harkness or Zimmer, who then takes him back to the Commonwealth.
Inventory
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items | On death |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivet City security uniform | Chinese assault rifle | Armory Key Harkness' Key Pack of cigarettes |
Ear x4 |
Notable quotes
- "Self determination is NOT a malfunction." – Harkness, before transformation
- "I never should've let you on this damn boat!"
- "Everyone's so goddamn trigger happy these days."
- "We've got ourselves a psychopath. Everyone stand clear!"
- "You're just pissing me off!"
- "You're a petty criminal, but we let you stay here for now."
Notes
- If you do not return Harkness to Zimmer, Harkness will stay in Rivet City in a loop, unable to die. If you wait to activate his recall code he will give you his plasma rifle, after which you can still turn him in and gain a reward from Zimmer.
- During The Replicated Man quest, after Harkness finds out he is an android and the player is following him downstairs to the Science Lab, he can be pickpocketed for the key to the Ship's Armory.
- If the Lone Wanderer allows Zimmer to reclaim Harkness, Zimmer will use a command to restore Harkness to his factory settings.
- If you have the Contract Killer perk and kill him through the Console Commands, he'll have 4 ears instead of one.
Appearances
Harkness appears only in Fallout 3.
Behind the scenes
- When prompted with his activation code, Harkness will mention all of the 'runners' he killed. This is a reference to the movie Blade Runner and the book it was based on, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.
- One of his replies might be "Oh yeah? And I'm a fairy princess." this is a reference to an utterance made by Mad Max in the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.
