Gaming Fallout 3 GOTY Deep Dive: Those! – Bryan Wilks and the Fire Ants of Grayditch 0 Comments

Fallout 3 GOTY Deep Dive: Those! – Bryan Wilks and the Fire Ants of Grayditch

Introduction

If you’ve played Fallout 3, you know the Capital Wasteland is full of heartbreaking side quests , and Those! in Grayditch is one of the most memorable. It’s not just about blasting mutants; it’s about saving a terrified kid who just watched his entire world burn.

Let’s walk through it step by step.

Meeting Bryan Wilks

While wandering near the Grayditch area (southeast of the Jefferson Memorial), you’ll come across Bryan Wilks, a scared boy who flags you down in desperation. Fire ants have attacked his town, and he begs you to help him find his dad, Evan King Wilks.

This already sets the tone , Fallout doesn’t sugarcoat it. The kid’s world is literally in flames, and he’s hanging on to the hope that maybe, just maybe, his dad is still alive.

Searching Grayditch

When you explore the ruins of Grayditch, it’s eerily quiet except for the occasional giant fire ant skittering around, spitting streams of fire. Inside one of the houses, you’ll eventually discover Evan’s body. There’s no happy reunion here , Bryan’s father is gone, burned alive in the chaos.

At this point, the quest shifts. What started as “help the kid find his dad” turns into “figure out where the hell these fire ants came from and put a stop to it.”

Marigold Station

Following the trail leads you to Marigold Station, an old Metro stop that’s now crawling with these oversized bugs. This part can be tough , tight tunnels, ants attacking in swarms, and plenty of opportunities to get cornered if you’re careless.

Deep inside, you meet the man responsible: Doctor Lesko. He’s not your typical mad scientist; he genuinely thinks he’s helping science by experimenting on ants. Unfortunately, his “brilliant” idea backfired, turning normal ants into fire-breathing monsters.

Help the Scientist or Not?

Here’s where Fallout 3 shines , it doesn’t force a black-and-white choice. Lesko asks you to help finish his research, which he claims will make the ants docile again. But do you trust him?

If you help Lesko, you go deeper into the tunnels, destroy the ant queen’s guards, and give him the chance to complete his work. Later, you can come back and see a small reward for your efforts: docile ants that no longer attack.
If you don’t trust him, you can just kill him and wipe out the queen and her spawn yourself. Brutal, but effective.

Either way, the infestation ends , and you can finally return to Bryan with the bad news about his father.

Bryan’s Future

This is where the human side of Fallout hits hardest. You tell Bryan the truth: his dad didn’t make it. The boy is crushed, but you’re given options. You can just leave him to fend for himself, or you can send him to live with his Aunt Vera in Rivet City.

Most players do the latter, and it feels like one of those rare moments where you actually make the Wasteland a little less cruel. Bryan even thanks you, and you get the satisfaction of knowing you gave him a chance at survival.

Secrets and Extras You Might Miss

Mini Boss Feel: The Fire Ant Soldier variants in Marigold Station hit hard, especially with their fire streams. Fire resistance gear (like the Environmental Suit or just stimpaks galore) helps.
Lesko’s Lab Coat: If you side with Lesko, he gives you his shiny lab coat that boosts Science and Perception. A nice reward for tech builds.
Unique Dialogue: If your Intelligence is high, you can call Lesko out on his bad science. The devs really leaned into his “mad scientist but not evil” vibe.
Wasteland Karma Moment: Choosing Bryan’s fate isn’t just flavor text , it actually impacts your karma and how the world remembers you.

Why This Quest Sticks With Gamers

Unlike many kill x mutants quests, Those! is all about consequences and responsibility. You’re not just blasting bugs , you’re deciding whether science gets a second chance and whether a boy has a future in a dead world.

That’s classic Fallout storytelling: mixing tragedy, moral choice, and just enough weirdness (giant fire-breathing ants, anyone?) to keep it from getting too heavy.