Should You Spare or Kill Dr. Giles Rasmussen in The Outer Worlds 2?

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In The Outer Worlds 2, you can help your team members through companion quests. Inez’s second quest is called “A Most Extraordinary Specimen.” In this mission, she finds out about a facility involved in some wicked practices related to her grafting procedure. You travel to Cloister to look into the matter.

This leads to an interesting quest where you search a dangerous laboratory for an even more sinister doctor. During your investigation, you complete several objectives. Here is a full walkthrough of the quest, including the outcomes based on your choices at the end.

Starting the Quest

The quest starts when you meet a courier at the Undisputed Claim. He is near the entrance to the Value-Added Esplanade and approaches you as you get off the tram. He has a message for Inez, but it’s a video message, so you need to wait until you’re back on your ship to view it.

Viewing the Message

Once back on your ship, Inez is nearby the viewing area. Go over and insert the message into the terminal to watch it. It’s from Ortiz, Inez’s old friend, who directs you to a messed-up lab on Cloister.

Finding the Lab

The lab is located in the northeastern corner of Cloister. To reach it, you must cross a bridge in the region’s center, which is filled with Zyranium gas. You need the Gas-Energy Deflection Apparatus to survive the gas. After crossing the bridge, you make your way through Auntie’s Choice Forward Operating Base to get to the lab.

Getting Past the Zyranium Gas Leak

Inside, the first obstacle is a large Zyranium gas leak blocking your progress. Several methods can help you get through:

Hacking Method: If your hacking skill is level 7 or higher, hack the terminal to vent the gas on the left side.
Engineering Method: With engineering level 4, you can go through the door on the right, drop into the gas area, and use a valve with your engineering skills.
The most straightforward way is to climb onto the yellow pipes next to the terminal.

After handling the gas, enter a floor vent and crawl through. On the other side, you’ll find a door inside the ice. Inez opens it, leading you to an elevator that takes you down into the lab.

Talking to Inez

Upon entering, Inez is in a room with tanks containing creatures. She initially thinks the large one is Ortiz but quickly realizes it isn’t. Before speaking with her, it’s wise to read the terminal in the corner to gather additional information for your conversation.

Dealing with Hostile Creatures

After leaving the Ortiz-like figure’s room, you hear the doctor calling for help. He’s trapped inside his office, with dangerous creatures outside, including a fierce Ursopod. It’s your task to help him eliminate the threats.

There are two ways to handle this:

Peaceful Approach (requires Medicine 7): Head left from the fake Ortiz room, descend the stairs, kill the two creatures blocking your path, then enter through the door. Inside, find a cub on a table and a desk with Arctic Ginseng Extract. Use your medical skills to craft a stimulant and activate the machine on the right to open the large door and proceed.
Violent Approach: Use weapons and combat skills to fight. Inside the bathroom, crawl through a vent to access the creature area. Then, fight or use other tactics to clear the creatures.

Confronting Dr. Giles Rasmussen

After the creatures are dealt with, confront Dr. Rasmussen, who is hiding in his office corner. He is responsible for the terrible activities at the facility. Your dialogue choices will determine his fate.

Killing the Doctor

To kill him, choose options that accuse him of lying, being responsible, and justifying your actions. You can say things like:

He’s not just a butcher; he’s a liar.
Who is his “sponsor”?
He’s heard many monsters use that excuse.
His subjects suffered greatly.
Maybe he’ll grow wings and fly someday.
Void him—he’s no failure now.
His research caused harm that can’t be justified.
Auntie’s only cares about using and discarding people.

After this, Inez will shoot him. Loot his body for his keycard and the Mechanical Augmentation. The keycard allows access to grafting parts for Inez, which is a main reward for killing him.

Sparing the Doctor

If you prefer to spare him, select dialogue options that portray him as a liar and a murderer, but also show that you’re open to his potential help. For example:

He’s a butcher and a liar.
What’s his “sponsor”?
Many use that excuse.
His subjects suffered.
Maybe he can help Inez with a graft.
This might prove he’s worth saving.
His research could help many.
It’s a personal choice, Inez—you decide.

If you spare him, Inez will decide to let him live. He will give you his keycard and open two pods containing grafts: Mantiqueen and Ursopod. You can take both as your main reward for sparing him.

Visiting Ethel’s Lab

Regardless of your decision, the last step is to go back to Ethel on Paradise Island, where she’s still in her lab at Fairfield. She will use the grafting parts you collected to give Inez an upgrade. If you killed the doctor, she’ll use the Mechanical Augmentation; if you spared him, you’ll choose between the Ursopod or Mantiqueen upgrades.

Final Scene

After the upgrade, you have a brief conversation with Ethel. The quest ends with you receiving either “Half Truths in Advertising” (if you spared Rasmussen) or “Full Measures” (if you killed him).