Doctor Steffard

Overview

Doctor Steffard
Neurologist and Cybernetics Expert
Zone	Imperial City
Coordinates	(-1789, -8, 929)
Level Range	8-15
Introduced By	== Level 8 == Luke Larson
Introduces	== Level 8 == Seer 1381
Enemy Groups	None

Doctor Steffard is a Praetorian contact in Imperial City at coordinates (-1789, -8, 929).  His level range is 8-15. He is located approximately 175 yards West and slightly South of the Industry Avenue neighborhood marker.

Introductions

Contact Introduced By

• Luke Larson

Contact Introduces

I've got someone I think you should meet.

• Seer 1381

I've detected an anomaly lately in the Seer Network. I think there's another Seer that may be fragmenting from the Network. You should go see if you can help her.

This contact I've introduced you to can probably move you along down the path you've chosen.

Information

Neurologist and Cybernetics Expert

Dr. Steffard is an expert on super powered physiology as well as a specialist in cybernetic implantation and neurology. He is a well known face amongst the Powers Division as he is one of the senior medical officials on the examination board which checks out each new member of Powers Division before admitting them into the organization.

Prior to Introduction

I'm not actually seeing patients right now. Are you sure you aren't looking for someone else, I haven't received a referral about you.

Initial Contact

I'm Dr. Steffard, but everyone just drops the doctor part. I've worked in neuroscience for twenty-two years now and I have only one thing to say about the Seer Project: It's immoral.

Sure, they do a great service, but at what cost? I took an oath to do more good than harm with any patient, and right now I see a lot of women in pain, and an opportunity to do a lot of good.

Greeting

• How're ya feeling?
• Hey buddy.

Too Busy

Missing Too Busy Dialogue

Too Low Level

Missing Too Low Level Dialogue

No More Missions

I can't believe that Emperor Cole could willingly allow such a travesty against human life to float there for all to see. Either he's blind, or being blinded. I'm not sure which, if any, is more comforting. I'm going to do my darndest to remedy this outrageous practice of enslaving girls to the city like they're some sort of traffic camera. And all just because they're born different.

Store

• Inspirations

Story Arc

Self Restraint

Souvenir

Self Restraint

Whenever you see the Seers watching over the city you are reminded of Dr. Steffard's personal vow to give freedom back to the Seers, and just how differently things could have been if the good doctor had shown just a little less:

Self Restraint

It all began when Dr. Steffard requested your aid in rescuing a Seer from the PPD. She had apparently been disconnected from the Seer Network and was completely unstable, lashing out at anyone and everyone nearby. Steffard gave you a neural restraint and you clamped it on her, temporarily suppressing her powers until you could get her back to Steffard.

Steffard's examination revealed that this Seer's cybernetic implants were different than anything he'd ever seen. He requested that you accompany him with the device to go see an acquaintence of his in the Syndicate, a sword master by the name of Maxine. When you arrived to speak with Maxine, however, a horde of Ghouls suddenly swarmed into the facility. Back to back with Maxine and her Syndicate operatives you fought the creatures off. Maxine then revealed that she'd heard rumors that Ghoul attacks were becoming more and more focused lately.

Maxine provided Steffard with information suggesting that M.I.C.I.R.'s Seer R&D Facility was conduction experiments on the Seers which resembled what Steffard had discovered. You went in to acquire more information in order to prove Steffard's theory that the Ghouls and Seer implants were somehow linked.

With the extra information Dr. Steffard's fears were confirmed. The Loyalists were perfecting a method to have Seers mind control the Ghouls, and that this was only possible because of the restraints worn by the Ghouls. The decision to destroy the research data or take it and use it to help the Resistance was not an easy one for Steffard, but in the end he asked for you to destroy the data rather than risk it falling into the wrong hands. You raided M.I.C.I.R. a second time and successfully destroyed the data.

However, the success was bittersweet. Rebecca, the Seer who you had rescued earlier and who was recovering from her release from the Seer Network, was dead. Someone had sent a kill signal to Rebecca's implants. Dr. Steffard blamed himself for not removing her implants sooner and for concentrating on researching the Ghoul control technology instead. It was then that Steffard vowed that he would ensure that the Seers got to live their own lives.

Part One: Primum Non Nocere

Larson spoke quite highly of you, Character. I don't know if we've met before, but you look awfully familiar...

Ah yes, that's right, I approved your medical papers to ensure you were fit for duty as a member of Powers Division. I see Tyrant's yoke didn't take. Way to give it to...

Was there something you needed, Doc?

Right, yes. Ah! Yes there is something I need, and you are the perfect...

I work with certain individuals in the Resistance, people of a more psychic nature, as it were. They have asked me to utilize my own specialties in neuroscience, one of my many fields of profound specialty, to aid them in recruiting other psychic individuals... telepaths and such.

Before I ramble for too long, my associate informed me that a Seer, one of the aforementioned psychic individuals, has broken free of the Seer Network. She's too dangerous for me to approach and bring in, so that's where you come in. I want you to apprehend Seer 0293 using this neural restraint.

Before you go, I have her location...

Unnecessary Solicitation

I knew you'd be back. Seer 0293 is currently hiding out in...

Oh fine, here's the address.

Mission Objective(s)

Waves of psychic anguish wash over you the second you walk in the front door. It's then that you realize the screaming isn't in your head.

• Apprehend Seer 0293
  • Rescue Seer 0293
  • Escape With Seer 0293

You managed to get the Neural Restraint on Seer 0293 and lead her out of the building.

Enemies

• Praetorian Police

Notable NPCs

• Seer 0293 (Seers Tracker, Escort Hostage, Ally)

Debriefing

You did it. Superb work.

You know, this reminds me of when... Wait a second.

Dr. Steffard examines Seer 0293's cybernetics for a moment and then his eyes widen.

Quickly, I need to get her inside...

Call me from now on, it's a secure line which means it is safer for both of us.

Part Two: A Second Opinion

These cybernetics in this woman's head... They're unlike any Seer implants I've seen before. Fascinating.

Amazing, it's as if they quadrupled the number of pathways... That would likely extend the range, but the signal would be so weak you could only pick it up with a receiver of some kind. Maybe it's...

Can I help you further?

Ah! I apologize, Character, I get so entranced with my work, I sometimes lose focus on anything but it.

Yes, I really could use your help. I want to find out more about these implants, but the only person I've dealt with in the past on such issues, at least, with any degree of success, was a rather, shall we say, understanding member of the Syndicate.

Things are very dicey right now with the Syndicate. I want you to escort me while I meet with Maxine. I don't expect any trouble from her, it's the rest of the Syndicate that worries me.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Whenever you're ready, but please, let's not keep Maxine waiting.

I made her wait once and she told me a story about...

Mission Objective(s)

The Syndicate seems to own everything in this town. Wait... that might actually be true.

• Meet with the Syndicate
  • Escort Steffard to Maxine

You fought off a horde of ghouls that came out of nowhere and Dr. Steffard got the information he needed from Maxine.

Enemies

• Ghouls

Notable NPCs

• Maxine (Syndicate Lieutenant, Ally)

Ambush! Immediately after talking to Maxine, you will be ambushed by several hordes of Ghouls.

Maxine is one of the top Syndicate killers. Her psychic mastery over her own body turns her into a lethal killing machine.

Maxine

Briefing

Why'd Steffard drag you along, Power Puff? 'Fraid something might happen?

Let's just say I'm insurance.

Don't worry, nothing's gonna... Wait. Did you hear something?

That sounds like... Ghouls!

Debriefing

Horrifying!

The Seer implant that I removed from Seer 0293 appears to emit some sort of tracking signal... one that the Ghouls are inclined to listen for.

Maxine informed me that some of her brethren in the Syndicate have started hearing reports about increased Ghoul activity over in Neutropolis, and the Crusaders have been talking about more and more coordinated Ghoul attacks on their positions as well. I have a theory that these events are somehow linked, but I do not yet know how.

I have to admit, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to count on you, Character. Most people don't even notice the Seers anymore, so I am pleasantly surprised that you are interested in figuring out if there is a link here between the Seers and the Ghouls.

Part Three: Just Because You Can...

The implant I dug out of Seer 0293 has four times the number of synaptic accelerator pathways, greatly extending the range of her telepathy, but making it so weak that even another psychic would have trouble picking it up in the same room. I have a theory in the works, but I need you to help me find some evidence to back it up.

Help Steffard prove his theory.

At first I dismissed the design as flawed, but I'm starting to see a very real brilliance behind this device, Character.

The range is extended, that is key. This device attached to a class 11 Seer, like our friend 0293, has a range roughly about that of Imperial City, a stronger Seer could easily cover Praetoria City.

But here's the key that threw me off. The range is increased, but at the expense of power. With this installed, Seer 0293 couldn't read the mind of a fly, nor could she transmit a thought with any clarity beyond a foot. The device simply saps too much strength out of the psychic signal to do anything but travel distance. So why was she so powerful when you found her in that office building?

The answer to that, my friend, I hope you will find in M.I.C.I.R.'s Seer Facility over in Industry Avenue. According to Maxine, they're working on something she claims to be very similar to the device I showed her.

While you do that I'll do some tests with these Ghoul collars. I have a feeling that whoever is putting the Ghouls in these restraints has something to do with these Seer implants as well.

Unnecesary Solicitation

Get access to the database inside that facility and look for anything pertaining to synaptic accelerator pathways. If they're working on what I think they are, that will get you a lot of hits on your query.

Mission Objective(s)

Facilities like these are where the Seers go for psychic downloads and regeneration.

• Search Seer Facility in M.I.C.I.R
  • Get synaptic accelerator pathway data
  • Find mission exit

You got the data for Dr. Steffard, bring it back to him and figure out if his theory is correct.

Enemies

• Seers

Debriefing

You have the data?

Excellent, let me have a look at it...

...

Just what I thought, Character. They're using these implants to try and turn the Seers into command and control modules for the Ghouls!

Finale: ...Doesn't Mean You Should.

Character, I've had to make a lot of very difficult moral choices in my time as a physician and scientist. I've had to weigh the life of one patient against another, question the implications of my research more times than I can remember, and even struggle with the bliss a lie can give, versus the dread the truth can cause.

But this... this is a crossroads for me. On the one hand we have here the chance to give the Resistance control of the Ghouls, turn them against Cole's forces and gain the edge we need in this ideological war. But to do so would invalidate everything we are fighting for. We don't even know for sure who the Ghouls are, or where they came from. To use them as our enemies would is both immoral and unthinkable.

Ask Steffard what he wants to do.

There is no choice to be made. The data needs to be destroyed. If I take it, no matter what good I might be able to do with it, I would eventually feel pressured to use it as intended, a weapon.

I want you to go back to M.I.C.I.R. and delete the data and any Seers that may be equipped with devices similar to the one implanted in Seer 0293.

Speaking of which, Rebecca is awake and doing well. She asked me to thank you for freeing her from the network. It will be some time before she is herself again. In the meantime I'm going to try and find her family.

Those Loyalists who are truly loyal to the safety and peace of Praetoria would do well to speak with Provost Marchand about events that are happening.

Unnecessary Solicitation

Remember, you'll need to delete the data not only from the main database, but any Seers possessing prototypes of the technology will have to be eliminated.

Mission Objective(s)

Security has been heightened since your last visit.

• Raid M.I.C.I.R.
  • 4 experimental seers to defeat
  • Destroy Data

You destroyed the data from the M.I.C.I.R. database, ensuring that Seer controlled Ghouls won't be a reality, at least, not anytime soon.

Enemies

• Seers
• Praetorian Police
• Experimental Seers (Seers Lieutenant, Visionaries)
• Ghouls

Ambush! The Experimental Seers will each summon assistance, or call Ghouls, when attacked.

Main Database

Briefing

You gain access to the computer database.

(Search for Synaptic Acceleration Pathways)

Your search yields over twenty thousand files. You don't have time to review them all.

(Delete all files.)

After three confirmation screens and ensuring that revision control was disabled, you delete all the files.

(Leave)

Debriefing

Ah, Character, you've returned successful I trust... That's good. That's very good...

You can tell something is disturbing the doctor immensely, so you inquire as to what's wrong.

Rebecca, Seer 0293, she's dead... They sent a kill signal to her. I... I couldn't save her. If only I'd removed all of the implants instead of researching that accursed Ghoul control implant, then she'd still be alive...

No. No! This is not my fault! I didn't pull the trigger, I didn't do anything but help that girl. Whoever is behind that wretched control technology is responsible, not me...

From now on, Character, I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure that the Seers are in control of their own lives. Nobody will ever choose when they live or die but themselves.