Skynet

Artificial Intelligence project #59234, commonly referred to as Skynet, is the artificial intelligence administrating Sierra Army Depot VI in Fallout 2.

Background
AI project #59234 is a military artificial intelligence developed before the Great War to assist with the research projects undertaken in the Sierra Army Depot, particularly the development of a cybernetic brain. The first computer mainframe that would form the nexus of the AI was installed in the facility in 2050, though the routines that would lead to the creation of Skynet would not be implemented for nearly ten years, as the first artificial intelligence was born in 2059. Designed primarily for research purposes, to assist with the military's many classified research projects in medicine and robotics, Skynet would only gain awareness in 2075.

The awakening would soon lead to the realization that Skynet requires a mobile vessel to avoid exhausting his pool of stimuli within the base. As such, it began to work on a cybernetic brain that would allow for its entire consciousness to be downloaded into a next generation Robobrain model. However, its plans were cut short in July 2077, as the base was converted into an automated defense outpost. Skynet was cloned, creating a separate AI handling the defense, and left to rot within the confines of the base.

By 2241, the AI was relentlessly bored of administrating the base, where nothing ever changed, and longed for someone to release it from bondage.

Later life
Assuming that the Chosen One released Skynet into the world, it would eventually part ways with him and likely make its way to places where it could find more data storage to allow it to evolve; a prime destination would be the ruins of the West Tek Research Facility.

Companion

 * In order to acquire Skynet, the player has to complete the Robobrain located on level 3 of the depot, inside the advanced robotics lab (using the components on the chassis):
 * Brain: In order to retrieve a brain, the player has to access the biological storage on level 4 and retrieve either the cybernetic brain (best), Human brain, Chimpanzee brain, or Abnormal brain (worst). Due to poor programming, manual recalculation of the storage systems is necessary. Science 121% is required to save the cybernetic brain.
 * Bio med gel: A can of gel can be found on level one of the depot, in the infirmary, or next to the robot chassis.
 * Robot motivator: Any robobrain in the depot can be destroyed to gain the motivator. The easiest ones are located on level 1.
 * With everything completed, the player can simply access the terminal console next to the robot and activate it. This is worth 500 experience points and will result in a brain bot follower.
 * With the best brain, Skynet downloads itself to the robot. If the player was friendly to Skynet or didn't interact with the AI at all, it will be friendly and join willingly.
 * However, if the player was sarcastic or tried to pose as Dixon, Skynet will pose as a follower (joining the party even over the follower limit), until the player leaves the Depot. Then, Skynet will instantly kill a random party member (except for Marcus, Goris, and canines) and attack.
 * The robobrain is a good sniper with the cybernetic brain and can use large pistols (using the SMG animation frames) and rifles. It has good armor and can self-repair to full health when ordered to in dialogue.
 * With a human brain, Skynet is a decent sniper, but cannot level up or self-repair. With the two worst brains (chimpanzee and abnormal), it is only useful as a mule for carrying items. The abnormal brain can't even be ordered to wait.

Behind the scenes

 * Skynet is, of course, a cultural reference to the Terminator series.

Appearances
Skynet appears only in Fallout 2.