Ford Schick

Ford Schick is a scientist and friend of Smuggler. Ford was kidnapped by Majestic 12 and forced to do research related to the Gray Death.

Biography
Ford was kidnapped to work in Majestic 12's secret lab in the sewers below Hell's Kitchen. Ford's task was to conduct experiment on homeless people captured by MJ12 by genetically altering them so that they could host the Gray Death virus more effectively without triggering an immune response against the virus. However, the experiments resulted in a number of deaths.

When Ford disappeared, Smuggler consulted with the Oracle AI for information on his disappearance. Smuggler would eventually learn that Ford is being held in the secret lab in the sewers.

Interactions
If JC Denton visits Smuggler on his first visit to Hell's Kitchen, Smuggler will ask JC to rescue Ford, whom Smuggler believes has likely been kidnapped by the government. Smuggler suspects that Ford is being held in a secret lab in the city's sewers. The sewers is heavily fortified and guarded by Majestic 12 soldiers. If JC reaches Ford, he will reveal that a "biotech company" is forcing him to conduct experiments on integrating the Gray Death into a human host more effectively by eliminating the body's immune response to the virus. If Ford makes it out of the base alive, Smuggler will thank JC and give him a discount on his products. Regardless of whether Schick is rescued on this first visit to Hell's Kitchen, he is not seen again.

Cut content
Three additional conversations between Ford Schick and JC Denton can be found in the game files. They were meant to occur on the second and third visits to Hell's Kitchen. Schick's rescue flag expires after the third mission so these exchanges never take place.

The conversations can still be heard if Ford is spawned in Smuggler's hideout using cheats; however, the augmentation upgrade canister that he offers as a reward cannot be acquired. Schick has a considerable amount of inside knowledge on the Gray Death and claims that JC has had the plague "for years", and is simply immune to its effects. He states that he worked with tissue cultures labelled "JCD" - or JC Denton - while working for Majestic 12.

Another unused conversation is when you enter the sewers without acquiring a key from Smuggler.

Quotes

 * "Here I go!"
 * "I could eliminate the immune response by removing all sequences that code for H type epsilon, but that's like driving a nail with a wrecking ball."
 * "Smuggler said you've got a lifelong discount on anything he sells."
 * "I bet what they really want is to interrogate you about Paul. Even if you get shot up, I doubt they'll let you die."
 * "The virus itself is a nanotech device; it just happens to have the same structure as the nanites that implement your augmentations."

Trivia

 * Ford Schick is modeled to resemble Warren Spector. Spector makes cameo appearances in many of the games he works on.