A Bright Bouncing Boy is a Stranger mission featured in Red Dead Redemption 2. The quest becomes available during Chapter 4.
Story[]
Professor Marko Dragic can be found sitting on a pond in Saint Denis having an outburst. After being introduced, he recruits the protagonist to help him with a new remote-controlled boat that he wishes to showcase for some investors. When the investors arrive, they ask that someone with no understanding operate Dragic's machine, and the protagonist decided to help.
Once the boat is in the water, the machine operates entirely on radio waves and electricity. The pond is full of mines that must be avoided and battleships that must be sunk. During the showcase, Dragic discusses just how remarkable his breakthroughs are. After the first wave is destroyed, Dragic sets in some sailboats that move around the pond and are easier to sink. After the demonstration, the spectators are impressed by the potential of Dragic's inventions, however, not impressed enough to support the professor. Dragic will fail to negotiate, then he will angrily destroy the control device by throwing it into the water.
A few days later, the protagonist can visit Dragic's workshop located in the northeastern corner of the map during the night time to continue the mission. The professor is worried that someone is coming to rob him and speaks to the protagonist through a microphone while in hiding. After seeing who it is, he tells the protagonist about the trouble he is having with his experiment. He has the protagonist take three metal rods outside and try to capture electricity from the thunderstorm outside.
Once all three rods are placed, Dragic pulls a lever but nothing happens. Frustrated, he tells the protagonist to climb to the top of a metal tower and flip a few switches to initiate the capture. After doing so, it turns out Dragic wishes to use the electricity to power his own robot. The experiment begins and the robot takes a few steps forward before collapsing. Regardless, Dragic is happy with the results.
A few days later, the protagonist can visit his workshop again to see his fate. Dragic can be found dead in a pool of blood inside his lab. If the player then goes to the other side of the map in The Grizzlies, they will find his robot sitting in the snow on top of a mountain ledge overlooking Colter, quietly mumbling "Papa" to itself over and over. The player can shoot the robot or leave it.
Deaths[]
- Marko Dragic - Killed by his robot creation.
- Dragic's robot (optional) - Can be "killed" by Arthur/John.
Walkthrough[]
Part I[]
- "Marko Dragic demonstrates his latest invention, a remotely controlled boat, to a crowd of potential investors and one buffoon in Saint Denis."
Once the player gains control of the remote-controlled boat, they must fire torpedoes at all battleships that are marked with large red circles on the minimap. It is recommended to destroy the mines as well if the player starts to drift closely. After the first wave of boats is destroyed, a wave of sailboats will spawn and move. There are four boats in each of the two rounds.
Part II[]
Once the player receives the rods conductors for the electricity, they must go outside and use the detector to narrow down the exact spot to place them. The darkness may make it difficult to locate the spot, though the player may take as long as they need to find it. Afterwards, the player must climb the large metal transmission tower and flip various switches; the player should ensure that all of them are all facing down to be properly configured.
Part III[]
The player can revisit Dragic's workshop and loot the area. They can find various notes showing the inventor's true intentions. Afterwards, if the player uses the Electric Lantern, it will direct them to a location in the northwest Grizzlies, in the mountains near Colter, to find the robot responsible for killing the inventor.
Missable Items in the Mission[]
Trivia[]
- While playing as either Arthur Morgan or John Marston during the second part of the mission, they will reveal they have "never had a single day of certified education" in their lives.
- After completing Part I as Arthur, the player can meet Dragic as John in the Epilogue. If John does the second part of the stranger mission, he will explain to Dragic that his friend "helped him at the pond" years ago.
- When placing the electric conductors, a pack of wolves can be seen in the distance and will be struck by lightning and killed. Curiously, the player can still skin them and their pelts will be in perfect condition in spite of the damage.
- The remote control boat is a reference to the Teleautomaton, a remote-controlled submarine designed and built by Nikola Tesla in 1898.
- Marko Dragic's robot appears to be a reference to the robot Elektro, the first robot in history, which was built in 1938 by Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, the company for which Tesla had served as an engineer.
Video Walkthrough[]
Trophies/Achievements[]
Completing this Stranger mission strand contributes toward the following Trophies/Achievements:
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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
10
 Bronze
 Discover the fate of Marko Dragic
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WESTERN STRANGER
30
Bronze
Complete 10 Stranger mission strands
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100
Gold
 Attain 100% Completion.
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