“Pressing Cares” is Niles’ first companion quest on Paradise Island. As you explore Fairfield, Niles will call out to talk; accept, and he’ll ask to visit Zebulon Tran, the doctor who patched him up after Horizon Point. Agreeing starts the quest and adds a marker near Westport.
If the prompt hasn’t appeared yet, you can still kick things off: bring Niles in your party and walk to the run-down storefront marked The Perfect Goods outside Westport’s walls. Entering with Niles present will begin the quest.
Find Zebulon Tran near Westport
Head to the waterlogged buildings just northwest of Westport. You’ll encounter Crabbles outside; clear them and step into The Perfect Goods. Inside, talk to Zebulon Tran. The reunion is icy until a distress call cuts in over the radio from Audra Baines, one of Zeb’s subversive allies. Her team has been caught by the Protectorate and is slated for off-world interrogation.
Offer help to proceed. Your next stop is the holding yard near the Vox Relay in the island’s north.
Reach the Vox Relay holding site (three viable routes)
There’s a chasm between Westport and the northern facilities. You can cross it several ways, depending on your story progress and traversal tools.
| Route | Requirement / Notes |
|---|---|
| Desalination → Skycutter A102 → lift | Complete the quest “Who Else But Us” inside Skycutter A102 to send a power surge to the Vox Relay, then use the external lift to reach its outskirts. |
| Crashed ship west of Westport | Traverse the wreck as platforms. You’ll need the PALE for a double jump to clear gaps. |
| The Bridge of the Reverent | Push through by force; expect heavy resistance. From the bridge, head northeast to the holding yard. |
Once across, look just northeast of The Bridge of the Reverent for a small fenced compound of containers and Protectorate troops.
Clear the holding yard and grab the key loot
The yard is a tight arena with chest-high cover. Enemies spawn in a mixed squad; use the containers to break sightlines and stagger tougher targets.
| Protectorate unit | Notes |
|---|---|
| Trooper | Standard ranged; easy to isolate. |
| Rectifier | Close-range pressure; peel them off first. |
| Vindicator | Hard-hitting; keep in cover. |
| Neophyte | Loot for the Vox Landing Pad Storage Key after the fight. |
| Warden (armored) | Soak damage; exploit elemental weaknesses. |
With the area clear, cross to the far container cell to find Audra Baines alive. She confirms the rest of her team is dead after a Protectorate crackdown and torture by a Consul. You now choose between convincing her to live or permitting her plan to sabotage the transport.
How to save Audra Baines (persuasion and lockpicking checks)
If you want Audra to walk away, a small Speech investment helps. With Speech level 3, a new line appears: “I agree with Niles. You shouldn’t sacrifice yourself, Audra.” Use it to push her off the idea. She’ll eventually agree to leave the area if you can get the cell open.
- Fastest unlock: Use the Vox Landing Pad Storage Key from the Protectorate Neophyte’s body.
- Alternative: pick the lock with a Mag-Pick and Lockpick level 3.
Opening the cell grants an XP bump, followed by another XP grant after you finish speaking with Audra. She asks you not to damage the transport to avoid drawing heat and departs to reconnect with Zeb later.
Immediately after, Niles proposes sabotaging the transport anyway. You get four dialogue stances that set what happens next:
| Dialogue choice | Outcome at the transport |
|---|---|
| “You’re right. The Protectorate deserves to be punished. Sabotage the transport.” | Niles sabotages the ship. It detonates mid‑air on your return to Zeb. Audra is not aboard. |
| “My answer’s no. I trust Audra’s assessment of the situation, and so should you.” | No sabotage. The ship departs intact. |
| “Think about the risks one more time and decide. I’ll abide by your choice.” | Niles chooses not to sabotage. |
| “Fine. Do whatever makes you happy.” | Niles chooses to sabotage. |
Letting Audra sacrifice herself (alternate path)
If you don’t persuade her — or steer the conversation toward her original plan — the operation proceeds without a jail break. When you later regroup near Westport, you’ll see the Protectorate transport lift off, then explode and crash. Audra dies, and the action still disrupts Protectorate operations.
Return to Zebulon and quest rewards
Go back to The Perfect Goods near Westport to debrief with Zeb. Hand over the cipher retrieved from Audra’s group.
- If Audra died: Zeb laments the loss but acknowledges Niles’ effort to make amends. You receive Niles’ Mod Kit and multiple XP awards, including a larger end‑of‑quest grant of about 1,690 XP.
- If Audra lived (with or without sabotage): Zeb is relieved she survived. You receive Niles’ Mod Kit and XP grants with a smaller final payout of about 1,286 XP after the wrap‑up conversation.
Niles’ Mod Kit lets you apply unique modifiers to Niles’ gear. The options are preference‑driven; none is a clear best in all cases.
As you leave, Niles asks to talk. He’ll process Audra’s fate, praise the operation’s success if you chose sabotage, and thank you for helping him face Zeb. This companion line continues later with “Do More Harm.”
Quick reference: what to expect at each outcome
| Audra’s status | Sabotage state | What you see | Key rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saved | No sabotage | Transport departs safely | Niles’ Mod Kit; XP grants with ~1,286 XP final |
| Saved | Sabotaged | Transport explodes mid‑air; Audra not aboard | Niles’ Mod Kit; XP grants (final varies, typically smaller than death path) |
| Died (no jailbreak) | Sabotaged | Transport explodes and crashes | Niles’ Mod Kit; XP grants with ~1,690 XP final |
That’s the arc for “Pressing Cares”: start it in Fairfield, find Zeb on Westport’s outskirts, fight through the Protectorate yard near the Vox Relay, decide Audra’s fate, and bring the cipher back to close things out. If you’re invested in Niles’ story, plan time for his follow‑up companion quest after this.
