Harper

Harper in Fallout

Harper is a main protagonist in the fallout series appearing in Fallout: A Chip in the Bag. Harper was an inhabitant of Bartertown taking on any work he could find landing him the job of delivering the chip. Harper become a courier after encountering Dr. Donkless the Scientist who recruited him to find and deliver the chip to his associate. For Harper it is not just the money that drives him to complete the job, but his genuine care for the betterment of the wasteland. He is also banned from the province previously known as Kentucky for unknown reasons.

## In Fallout: CB

### Opening

Harper first appears while Renault attempts to loot his camp, surprising the scavenger and holding him at gunpoint. Harper tries to give Renault an ultimatum to leave or be shot but he is suddenly interpreted by the sound of an approaching gang, and decides to hide rather than risk grabbing the nearing groups attention in dealing with the scavenger. Harper hides behind some dead fallen trees and watches as the raider gang approach. Being outnumbered and only having a pistol, Harper decides against engaging the larger group and simply hopes they leave the chip in the bag. Unfortunately, the raiders take all his belongings and once it is safe, Harper runs back into the open in frustration that the chip was taken. Renault suddenly then reappears confidently approaching Harper with a deal. Harper points his gun at him and tells him to get lost since he doesn't even know the importance of that chip. Renault admits he doesn't but realizes the value of the chip to Harper and then makes the offer that he will assist in retrieving the chip in exchange for half of the money awarded for the chip as well as any other benefits it possesses. Harper agrees to the deal but refuses to give Renault anything until the chip is retrieved which Renault accepts. The pair shake hands and introduce themselves before heading out through the woods following the raider's trail. When they head off Harper states how if they don't get that chip they're done for.

As the two are walking in the woods Harper questions Renault whether that is his actual name or just a stupid thing to go with his license plate armor. As Renault responds suddenly the Toll Man appears holding the two at point blank with his bazooka. Harper asks Renault to cover the costs since he no longer has anything. Renault agrees since he deems the delivery award will easily repay this expenditure, and asks the Toll Man what he wants. He asks for explosives so he may booby trap the road before he goes to sleep so Renault pulls out 3 frag grenades of various kinds from his pockets and pays the man allowing them to pass. Harper rather annoyed that Renault had been hiding these grenades, informs him that those could have easily been used on the raiders to which Renault responds, "That wasn't my problem yet".

### Along the road

Harper is then seen with Renault as they make their way out of the woods and are now traversing an old road, acting more friendly as Harper tells a funny story. Just then the Toll Man reappears to demanding more payment. Renault and Harper refuse to pay him since they just did on the last road with the Toll Man denying having ever met the two before at any other road at any other point of his life. Renault, dissatisfied, looks to Harper who then reasons with the Toll Man taking note how he wanted payment to use the road. Harper then asks if they may walk alongside the road as long as they don't step on the pavement which the Toll Man confirms. Harper then proposes the option that they do that and asks if there would be anything stopping them from doing so with the Toll Man answering "I don't believe so". Harper and Renault look at each other before Renault says they will go with that option with the Toll Man's acceptance saying he'll see them round allowing them to pass by him.

Later Harper and Renault decide to take a rest by the side of the road at a tree figuring they should rest up before engaging in the upcoming battle. The two discuss their backgrounds with Harper telling of his home of Bartertown and how he met a man at the bar who had a job in delivering the chip and how it was capable of saving the wasteland. Harper did not know how this one done, only that he would be payed a lot of money for the job. After this the Highwayman comes up to the pair posing as an innocent child asking for assistance. Harper offers some help when the Highwayman suddenly pulls out a machine gun demanding all their stuff. The two at a disadvantage seeing the crazed gunman in front of them comply and the boy walks off with all their belongings. Harper is enraged at the situation as Renault is trying to rationalize what to do next. Renault attempts to come up with a plan as Harper vents about the situation.

Harper and Renault are then shown continuing on displeased with their situation when the Toll Man reappears again. Renault attempts to punch him but he quickly steps aside pointing the bazooka at the two. The Toll Man babbles about giving him acquiescence, which neither man follows, when Harper has enough and socks him in the face knocking him out cold. The two look down at him and then continue on when they come across a weapons dealer. Renault is happy to see it when they suddenly realize it was their items being sold by the Highwayman that had taken them. Harper demands he return them but he states that they were free real estate. Harper then uses the forbidden ultimate threat of telling the Highwayman's mom which terrifies him, prompting him to run away screaming. Harper and Renault then regain their weapons and and other items such as Renault's trusty second canteen in case he gets thirsty twice before heading out to face their enemy.

### Woods Firefight

The two come across what they believe is the raider encampment and Harper decides they should flank it from two positions. The two slowly make the way to Harper's bag which is laying out in the open. Renault asks where everyone is when Harper calls him *"Captain Oblivious"* since this is obviously a trap. The raiders then appear from behind a wall joined by the Highwayman holding the two at gunpoint. Renault and Harper also train their rifles on the raiders as Harper attempts to persuade the raiders just to give him the data drive since it is unimportant. The Boss now aware of its contents refuses this presenting the unfair offer to the two that if they leave the chip in the bag with him he may let them leave with their lives. Harper attempts to reach out to the gang saying how the chip is for the greater good not for money but The Boss deems that to be bad business. Harper then gives Renault his rifle as he begins to approach The Boss. The Boss finds this amusing as instead of running away he is coming right to him. Harper then states he cannot beat the crap out of him without coming closer to which The Boss laughs and says to come as close as he would like before jumping down. The two then engage in a flurry of fists as Renault runs to cover firing his gun at the other raiders. While this occurs, the raiders Gerald and Jimothy move to flank the wanderers, while Klaus is killed trying to cover them.

Harper then pulls The Boss' visor down and knocks him to the ground allowing him to then grab the bag and attempt to shoot Gerald. Harper then runs back to the log Renault is taking cover behind and takes the laptop out of his bag to check on the chip. Renault runs to another point of cover but then loses sight of the raiders. Harper attempts to boot up his laptop and examine the chip while Renault is knocked over and then incapacitated by Jimothy and Gerald. Renault yells out for Harper to assist him as he believes to be blind from his helmet being pulled down causing Harper to run over to him and lift up his helmet. Renault states how he owes his life to Harper and then resumes fighting as Harper examines the chip. Harper then confirms they got the chip excitedly but is then shot dead by The Boss. Renault in shock attempts to wake his friend when he is flanked by The Boss but manages to quickly whip around and blast him dead. Renault realizes Harper is dead and then takes the chip and runs away. Following this Renault decides to himself he will carry out the delivery, but first he will need answers.

## Trivia

- The name Harper was decided off a name generator for action heroes.

- Originally Harper was not going to be killed, but John later decided he should to make things more dramatic.

Get your mitts off my stuffDealing with some nonsenseResting by the treeSocking the Toll ManReasoning with The BossDealing with The BossMoments before tragedy