For other characters named Eugene, see Eugene. For other uses of the term Spike, see Spike.
The following is based on upcoming content for Fallout 76. It may be subject to change and is not guaranteed to be released.
“Be careful picking fights. You might've held your own out there, but it'll be a hell of a lot tougher in here. For what it's worth, I'd rather not see your head on a spike.”— Eugene
"Eugene" is the alias of Spike, a former raider who claims he has put his past behind him.[1] Although he does not specify of which raider gang he was a member, Eugene denies that it was the Rust King's Army.[2] He was, however, familiar with Magpie, who was herself a raider under the Rust King, and she says that, while he was a raider, Spike did "horrific" things, refusing to believe that he is, in fact, a changed man.[3][4] He acknowledges that he committed acts "best not talked about," but continues to insist that he has moved on from the raider life.[2] On a lighter note, he also enjoyed working on machines and tinkering in his past.[5]
Eugene claims that, while crossing into the former state of Ohio and camping in the wasteland one night, he was suddenly knocked out and dragged to the Rust Kingdom, where he woke up as a captive.[6][7] To his fellow prisoners, he presents himself as the friendly, good-natured and inquisitive Eugene, concealing his past as a raider so that he can work out an agreeable alliance to escape captivity.[8][9][10][11] Although he is unsure of why exactly he was captured,[12][13] Eugene's kidnapping was actually planned out by the Rust King himself, as the warlord heard rumors of his wit and sought a worthy opponent. Knowing that he would likely falter in a fight, Eugene attempted to avoid combat at all costs when the Rust King asked him to prove his worth over members of the Rust King's Army. Although the Rust King was beginning to grow tired of Eugene's weaseling ways, the arrival of a Vault 76 dweller would cause the warlord to shift gears, pitting the dweller, Eugene and Silas against each other.[14][15]
After a confrontation between Silas and the Vault 76 dweller, Eugene would have been disposed of by the Rust King for not joining in the fight, before Eugene knelt at the Rust King's throne, seeking another chance to prove himself. Eugene asked for an opportunity to act like a hunter stalking his prey, and bring back conquests for the Rust King.[16] Eugene was let go, though he would obscure the true nature of his "escape."[17]
From this point on, Eugene would present himself as seeking to dethrone the Rust King, in a benevolent act to liberate the Burning Springs region from the control of the Rust King's Army.[18][19] Eugene appears to have been familiar with several people in the area known for opposing the Rust King's Army, including former military colonel Moose, nomadic raider-killer Leonard and the aforementioned Magpie, a sharpshooter and runaway from the raiders.[20] Eugene's plan involves recruiting these three for a revolution against the Rust King, with the help of the Vault 76 dweller, who would end up doing most of the heavy lifting to get the recruits on board.[21] Although Eugene is capable of killing Runt and clearing the way for the Vault 76 dweller's involvement, he knows that he cannot make this plan happen alone.[22][23] Eugene ostensibly plans to be creating a distraction of his own,[24] while the Vault 76 dweller talks to the Rust King, and the others fight.[25][26]
In reality, however, Eugene plans to betray everyone involved with this plan and offer them up as sacrifices to the Rust King. The Rust King pitted Eugene and the Vault 76 dweller against each other, in an attempt to find a worthy helper in ruling the wasteland, and Eugene chose to prove himself by coaxing out enemies of and threats to the Rust King through the promise of an insurrection.[27][28] Knowing that "do-gooders" would never help a raider like Spike, he uses the friendly Eugene persona to his benefit.[29] Although the Vault 76 dweller doing much of the legwork is a weakness in Eugene's plan, he attempts to argue that he was the one who ultimately made the dweller perform, and that they would be nothing without him.[30] Eugene, or Spike, sees himself as a puppetmaster[31] and his inflated ego leads him to believe that he is superior,[32] that the Rust King would be dead if not for him betraying the revolutionaries,[33] and that he can escape and worm his way out of any situation.[32]
Unbeknownst to Eugene, the Rust King invites opposition and actually disapproves of his attempts to stifle the revolutionaries, seeing the hindrance of those facing him as an insult to his strength. The Rust King even says he would have killed Eugene from the start if he knew that stopping the Rust King's enemies was Eugene's plan to win the challenge between him and the Vault 76 dweller.[34] Although Eugene is proud to boast about his machinations, the Rust King sees Eugene as not having done enough direct action to earn the right to brag like he does, not worthy of being known as a "conqueror."[35] This culminates in a final confrontation in the Rust Kingdom arena, ending in either the Vault 76 dweller or the Rust King killing Eugene, his scheming ways ultimately being his undoing.[36][35]
Personality[]
“Your trusting nature makes you a pushover. Don't you know? The tiniest bit of hope draws out the easiest prey.”— Eugene
While donning the Eugene persona, he portrays himself as a helpful, light-hearted and kind wastelander with a sense of humor,[37][38][39][40] while also acknowledging his physical flaws.[41] However, this lack of physical strength gives way for Spike's true strength: his intelligence and wit[14] allow him to be a manipulative, sadistic schemer[27] who believes himself to be superior to others.[32][33] What Eugene lacks in combat prowess, he makes up for in his ability to lie, cheat and steal, all while getting others to do his bidding. Occasionally, his mask slips in moments of frustration, but he quickly corrects course and returns to his friendly yet secretly manipulative persona.[42][43][44]
In addition to his conniving nature, Spike shows himself to be egotistical,[32] vindictive,[30] and overly proud of himself, as he relishes the opportunity to reveal his machinations once successful,[27] allowing him to belittle and demean his victims.[45] Although he is capable of making last stands and fighting to the end,[36] Eugene also shows some amount of cowardice, given his propensity to let others to do his dirty work for him,[30] and demonstrated through his attempts to save himself after Silas' death by groveling at the Rust King's throne.[16] This earns him the disapproval of the Rust King,[16] and it can even be pointed out by the Vault 76 dwellers, at which point Eugene attempts to deflect, not wanting to acknowledge any shred of superiority they may have over him.[30] His egomania leads him to believe that he is worthy of matching the Rust King's wits and strength, an assessment that the Rust King himself ultimately disputes,[46] seeing him as nothing more than a sniveling[16] schemer.[47]
Interactions with the player character[]
Interactions overview[]
Interactions
This character ignores combat and cannot be damaged.
This character cannot be killed. Status expires when combat is initiated with him or during story events in When the Rust Settles.
Welcoming Committee: Eugene is first met during this quest as a fellow captive in the Rust Kingdom arena. The player can talk with him, and ally with him or Silas, though Eugene ultimately runs away when combat occurs.
Might Makes Right: Eugene reappears at the end of this quest, having killed Runt and taken his place in the Highway Town maintenance closet. Speaking with him segues into the next quest.
Insurrection: Eugene starts this quest, putting into motion his ostensible plan to overthrow the Rust King. The player must return to him at the Highway Town maintenance closet after retrieving the backpack of supplies, and he is met again at the end of the quest in the Chop Shop's diner basement, conversing with Magpie.
When the Rust Settles: Conversing with Eugene segues into the final quest of the Burning Springs update, and he gives the player the pipe key to access the Rust Kingdom arena again. There, he reveals his betrayal, having killed whoever the player was able to recruit during Insurrection. After surviving a gauntlet of enemies, the player can choose to either kill Eugene themself in combat, or the Rust King will kill Eugene by crushing his head in a unique animation.
Eugene is the only character to appear in all four of the main quests from the Burning Springs update.
Although his betrayal is not fully revealed until When the Rust Settles, there are some hints throughout the Burning Springs quest line that Eugene is not what he seems: he is suspiciously avoidant when asked what he plans to do with the backpack of supplies,[48] the player can question his escape from the Rust Kingdom,[17] and his real name (Spike) and history as a raider is not revealed until the end of Insurrection, when Magpie mentions it and it is made clear that Eugene was hiding this.[2][4]
āEugene: "I am a changed man! My raider days are far behind me. I'm not that person anymore." (Eugene's dialogue)
ā 2.02.12.2Vault 76 dweller: "No, no. We don't get to talk until we address this 'Spike' thing." Eugene: "I get it. It's a lot. Let me ease your mind. I used to be a raider, like Magpie. Not for the green guy, of course. But, I did things. Bad things. Things best not talked about. I don't want you to think I'm my past. I'm not like that anymore. (Eugene's dialogue)
āMagpie: "And Spike? I'm not working with you. Someone who can do things as horrific as you...That's not something you should get involved with either." (Magpie's dialogue)
ā 4.04.1Magpie: "No Spike, you don't get to just act all jolly now. I know what you're like, and I do not appreciate you waltzing in here acting like a changed man." (Magpie's dialogue)
āEugene: "My name's Eugene. I was making a camp for the night, then someone knocked me out and I woke up in this horrible place. I can't remember much more than that. Anyway, what's your story?" (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "You're not getting any information from me." Eugene: "Prickly one, aren't you? Fine. If it makes you feel better, I'll tell you about myself first. I'm Eugene. I was just crossing into Ohio, then someone knocked me out and I woke up here. Now, will you cooperate and tell me what happened? It could be important." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "Why are you helping me?" Eugene: "Because any smart person knows when they're outnumbered. If you want to figure this out by yourself, then I'm not going to stop you. But we're stronger together." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "Please, don't hurt me. I don't know what I'm doing here." Eugene: "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm trapped here, just like you are. Take some deep breaths and steady yourself, all right?" (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "Silas mentioned him. They call him the Rust King." Eugene: "How interesting. I think we'll have to keep an eye on that prisoner, don't you? I wonder what else he knows. Good work getting that information. If we can arm ourselves with as much knowledge as possible, we might just make it out of here alive." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "What do you think he wants with us?" Eugene: "I'm not sure. I was hoping you'd know something. Maybe we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or maybe they mistook us for someone else. Whatever the reason, we should make a plan to get the hell out of here." (Eugene's dialogue)
ā 14.014.1Vault 76 dweller: "Have you tested others like you've tested Eugene and I?" The Rust King: "No. The schemer came to my attention first. When I heard rumors of his wit, I sought a worthy opponent and had my men track him down. I told him to prove to me that his value outweighs that of any member of my army. His pathetic attempts to avoid a fight amused me... for a time. Just as my patience ran thin, you arrived. A skilled warrior from beneath the earth. He must have assumed you'd be easy prey. Ha! It's clear he was a coward from the start." (The Rust King's dialogue)
ā 16.016.116.216.3Vault 76 dweller: "Why didn't you tell me that you were making Eugene my competitor?" The Rust King: "He knelt at my throne after you left my arena. He claimed that he could prove himself to be a skilled hunter, and wished to stalk his prey. It turned out to be nothing but sniveling cowardice." (The Rust King's dialogue)
ā 17.017.1Vault 76 dweller: "How did you even escape from the Rust Kingdom?" Eugene: "Lady Luck smiled on me, I guess. Hell of story for some other time." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "How do we even go against someone as strong as that?" Eugene: "It's not a matter of how, it's a matter of why. Because he's so strong, he has to go. This place would be better for it." (Eugene's dialogue)
āEugene: "To go against someone like that, we need more people. There's three of them, in the surrounding area, that are notorious for killing his men." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "Somehow you didn't strike me as a violent type." Eugene: "That's why I asked if you were interested, instead of saying 'watch me dismantle the whole thing on my own'." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "Where will you be, in all this?" Eugene: "I'll be creating a distraction. You just focus on the arena." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "How do I distract him?" Eugene: "Talking should be enough. God knows he loves the sound of his own voice" (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "He's ready to fight too." Eugene: "Great! Two strong fighters, this is an easy win for us friend. Exactly what we need! You did a great job." (Eugene's dialogue)
ā 27.027.127.2Eugene: "Maybe you haven't figured it out yet, but I used you. You were my prey and my bait. I simply sowed the seeds; planted ideas of 'revolution' to coax insects out of the woodwork. You rounded up the roaches, and sentenced them to death. Now the King knows how good I can be by his side." (Eugene's dialogue)
āEugene: "You weren't in this little test alone. The Rust King pitted us against each other. He wanted to see who had the appetite to help rule his Wasteland. After the King laid down the gauntlet, I put together a plan to root out potential problems... whilst making you doing all the legwork. All for your good friend 'Eugene'. Ha! Couldn't go around by my old raider name Spike, could I? Those do-gooder idiots would have sniffed me out and ruined everything. I think all this hard work has earned me a place at the top, don't you my king?" (Eugene's dialogue)
ā 30.030.130.230.3Vault 76 dweller: "You're right. I did all the hard work. I deserve to be the champion." Eugene: "Fine, fine. I'm not going to undermine your obvious talent, but I made you do those things. You're nothing without my guiding hand." (Eugene's dialogue)
ā 32.032.132.232.3Vault 76 dweller: "He might be twisted, but we should show him mercy." Eugene: "Mercy? I don't want your mercy. It was my hand that guided you here, my friend. Without me you wouldn't have an ounce of respect from anyone, let alone the King. I'll escape, just like I always do, and then..." (Eugene's dialogue)
ā 33.033.1Vault 76 dweller: "You should kill him. This cockroach hasn't learned his place." Eugene: "Hah! Cockroach? I won the challenge. The King would be dead without me. I set those revolutionaries in motion, but they could have caused his downfall. While you were making friends with those bastards, I saved him. He owes me everything. You're in over your head, kid." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "So you were aware of the revolutionists?" The Rust King: "No. If I had known that Eugene planned to stifle their efforts, I would have killed him from the start. I don't fear rebellion, I hunger for it. Let the strong rise up and face me. To hinder their potential is an insult to my strength." (The Rust King's dialogue)
ā 35.035.1The Rust King: "For what's to come, I need a conqueror. You, 'Eugene', boast too much for someone who didn't do the work. But you, champion. Your resolve is firm. Now, we must deal with this mutt." (The Rust King's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "When I escape, she'd better watch her back." Eugene: "Be careful picking fights. You might've held your own out there, but it'll be a hell of a lot tougher in here. For what it's worth, I'd rather not see your head on a spike." (Eugene's dialogue)
āEugene: "We're out of time. Watch my back, and I'll watch yours, all right?" (Eugene's dialogue)
āEugene: "I'm not a fighter. Hand me a weapon and I'll knock myself out. Besides, us two, against all of them? It'll be a slaughter." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "I don't want to. You're on your own." Eugene: "I'm sorry friend, but we're this far in now. There's not much choice in the matter.I know I'm asking a lot, but you're the only one for the job." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "Actually, he's not joining either." Eugene: "What? Give me strength, how did you let that happen? Maybe I was brash to trust you so easily...Ah, there's nothing we can do about it now." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "Fine. Hopefully he's more useful than you." Eugene: "That attitude is going to get you hurt someday, you know that?" (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "Eugene would never do that." Eugene: "Your trusting nature makes you a pushover. Don't you know? The tiniest bit of hope draws out the easiest prey." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "I've had enough of Eugene. I want to kill him." Eugene: "It makes you angry, doesn't it? Knowing you were played all along? You're nothing without me, friend. The Rust King needs an advisor that can match his wits, and his strength, and that's me." (Eugene's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "What are your plans now?" The Rust King: "Plans are for schemers, like the one that is now pulp between my fingers. I rule what I see. I will kill what I want, when I want. I continue to forge my might for whatever may come. You are a part of that." (The Rust King's dialogue)
āVault 76 dweller: "Why do you need these supplies anyway?" Eugene: "Don't worry yourself with that stuff. That's for me to figure out and you to do the heavy-lifting." (Eugene's dialogue)
