John "Dutch" Matrix

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## Character Overview

One of the mainstays of the Val Verde Universe is the concept that John Matrix from Commando and Dutch from Predator are the same character played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, and it is quite easy to make this connection. They essentially look identical, even with their matching face paint and jungle commando fatigues; and both characters have experience in Val Verde. In order to make this work, Commando (1988P, but shot in 1985) becomes a sequel to Predator (1987P and shot in 1987). In the Predator, Schwarzenegger is billed simply as "Dutch" and his characters birth name (Alan Schaefer) is never mentioned in the film. We can assume that the events in Predator lead to Matrix’s retirement, and when the character hears the choppers arrive at the beginning of Commando, we can assume that the character is remembering his last mission (“get to the chopper”) with some sense of apprehension. Additionally the character holds a higher rank in Commando as a Colonel than as a Major in Predator. It’s also easy to put together that Dutch’s squad in Predator is indeed Delta Force, a counter terrorist group that is enlisted to save cabinet members and eliminate terrorists. Finally, let’s face it, after anyone tangles with a Predator alien, they would be looking forward to a mountain retirement.

## Biography (P)

### Early Life

**John "Dutch" Matrix** was born in 1947 in East Germany and his family moved when he was 15 to New York City. After high school John joined the U.S. Army and completed basic training at Fort Bragg where he was introduced to Jim Hopper, a Green Barrett in training. Matrix was deployed to Vietnam during the Vietnam War where he excelled in guerrilla warfare tactics alongside Al Dillon, fighting battles in Da Nang and notably taking part in the Battle of Hue. In 1972 while serving under General Phillips, the two men obtained lighters of some personal significance.

After returning from the Vietnam War, Matrix married and had a daughter Jenny in 1972. The marriage would be short lived and end in divorce.

In 1977 Matrix trained under General Franklin Kirby and would be promoted to Major. Both men would become essential in the forming of Delta Force, a special operations force of the U.S. Army that specialize in counter-terrorism. Many members of Delta Force took on code names to protect them and their families from revenge by various government and terrorist groups; Matrix took on the code name "Dutch". As the leader of his own squad, Matrix had one stipulation: his team was a rescue team and wouldn’t agree to a mission if the primary objective was to kill enemies. Matrix's squad had missions in Angola, Cambodia, Lebanon and Afghanistan and took on a terrorist siege at the Sudanese Embassy in Berlin, Germany. He turned down a potential mission in Libya as it wasn’t a rescue mission.

### 1986 Mission to the Republic of Val Verdi

in 1986, Delta Force was sent to Val Verde to help depose the acting military dictator, Arius Pérez. On Matrix's team was Bennett, Lawson, Forrestal, Mac Cooke, and Blain. After the successful removal of Arius, Matrix terminated Bennett from the Delta Force because Matrix thought Bennett "enjoyed killing a little too much." Matrix gained the absolute trust of the newly inducted president of Val Verdi, President Raphael Velasquez, who nicknamed Matrix "The Hero of the Revolution."

### 1987 Mission to the Val Verdian Border in *Predator*

in 1987, Matrix and his squad landed on a beach in Conta Mana, Val Verde where Matrix met former commanding officer General Phillips. Phillips requested Matrix and his Delta Force which included: Poncho, Billy Bear, Mac Cooke, Blain, and Hawkins for this mission. The goal was to rescue a Val Verdian cabinet minister and his aide who had been kidnapped by nearby Guatemalan Guerrillas at the Val Verde border in the Chapada das Mangabeiras low lying mountain range. Matrix was also reacquainted with an old friend Al Dillon. Dillon was now working for the CIA and wanted to go along with Dutch. Dutch objected at first, saying his team only worked alone but eventually agreed that Dillon could accompany them. A helicopter transported Dutch and his team deep into Guatemala and dropped them off in the jungle.

Matrix soon discovers the wreckage of a crashed helicopter that had been carrying the cabinet ministers. Three skinned bodies hanging in the trees were also found which Matrix identified as Green Berets from their dog tags. One of them was Jim Hopper, Matrix's old comrade from Fort Bragg. At this point, Matrix was very suspicious of the reasons they were there. The squad pressed on to the guerrilla camp where a number of hostages were being held. Dutch witnessed a Soviet military officer executing a hostage. The team launched their assault on the camp, killing almost everybody including the Soviet officers.

They came to the conclusion that the “cabinet ministers” were actually CIA agents. Matrix confronted Dillon who confessed the mission was a set-up so they could retrieve intelligence from the CIA operatives. The Green Berets in the helicopter were part of a failed rescue mission from weeks earlier. Matrix was furious and commanded the team to proceed to the extraction point. There was one survivor from the guerrilla camp – a rebel woman named Anna who would accompany them.

Delta Force then made their way to the extraction point unaware they are being tracked by an unidentified creature. Anna attempts to escape but is caught by Hawkins. The creature spares Anna but kills Hawkins and drags his body away. Matrix organizes a search to find Hawkins’ body. During the search, Blain is killed and Mac and the squad open fire into the jungle, injuring the creature.

They set up camp for the night and put traps all around the perimeter. A wild pig inadvertently enters the camps setting the traps off. In the mayhem, Delta Force discover Blain’s body has been taken and Matrix realizes the enemy is using the trees to maneuver. The next day, Delta Force set up another trap made from a net and wait until the creature comes back. The trap is successful but it doesn’t hold the creature for long. Poncho is injured by a falling tree and the creature escapes. Mac and Dillon pursue it while Matrix and Anna carry Poncho to the extraction point with Billy Bear behind them. The creature kills both Mac and Dillon.

Billy Bear stands off against the creature while Matrix and Anna continue on. The creature kills Billy and then pursues Matrix, Pancho and Anna. Pancho is killed and Anna escapes to the extraction point. Matrix ends up falling into a river and over a waterfall, losing all of his weapons and equipment in the process. The creature pursues him into the river and mud-covered Matrix drags himself into tree roots. As the mystery creature emerges from the water, he becomes visible, revealing itself to be an alien creature – a “Predator” – with advanced weaponry. Matrix surmounts the creature’s vision is based on heat and therefore can’t see him covered in mud.

The Predator wonders off while Matrix prepares for battle. He constructs traps and weapons including a bow, spears and some grenades. He covers himself in mud again to hide his heat signature and calls out into the jungle to the Predator. The Predator arrives and Matrix manages to damage the creature’s cloak with an explosive arrow. Matrix fell into some water, removing his mud camouflage and was caught by the Predator. The Predator removes his mask and Matrix is forced to fight the Predator in melee combat.

Matrix is beaten badly but manages to lure the Predator under a a counterweight for another one of his traps. Matrix triggers the trap and a large log lands on the Predator fatally injuring it . As Matrix stares at the dying Predator, the creature initiates a self destruct mechanism on its gauntlet. Matrix escapes just in time before the subsequent explosion damages a huge area of the jungle. The extraction helicopter arrives who had picked Anna up earlier and picks up Matrix.

After the events in Val Verde, Matrix was promoted to Colonel.

### 1988 Events in California in *Commando*

After the events of 1987, John Matrix's ex-wife passes away from natural causes and his daughter Jenny is entrusted to his care. Matrix was also stricken with grief over the loss of his final Delta Force squad in Val Verde and retires from Delta Force and the U.S. Army. He entered into retirement with his daughter where the two lived comfortably in Mount Baldy, California.

One day Matrix hears military choppers arriving at this home in Mount Baldy and is immediately reminded of his last mission to Val Verde. The choppers deliver his former superior, General Franklin Kirby, who informs him that past members of Delta Force including Bennett, Lawson, and Forrestal were killed by mercenaries hired by a ruthless warlord. Matrix shrugs this off but he is soon attacked by the same group of mercenaries. During the assault, his daughter is kidnapped. Matrix kills many of the mercenaries including a man named Diaz and then goes off on his own to find his daughter and destroy the men who tried to kill him. He gets into a car wreck and is captured by the mercenaries led by Bennett .

It is revealed that Matrix is needed to carry out a political assassination for the former dictator of the Republic of Val Verde, Arius Pérez, who wishes to lead a military coup in his home country of Val Verde. Arius, who was deposed by Matrix in 1986, has already hunted down and killed the members of Delta Force who helped to depose him, but he has chosen Matrix because the current president trusts him implicitly. If he fails to kill President Velasquez, Jenny would be executed by Bennett. With Jenny's life on the line, Matrix reluctantly accepts the demand. Luther "Sully" Sullivan escorts Matrix to the airport with Henriques who is accompanying Matrix to Val Verde.

After boarding a plane to Val Verde, Matrix manages to kill his guard, Henriques, and informs the stewardess that he is “dead” tired and not to wake him. Matrix then jumps from the plane just as it is taking off. With approximately 11 hours' time (the period of the flight due to the mandatory cargo inspections at the Houston International airport imposed by Ronald Reagan), he sets out after another of Arius' men, Sully. He then enlists the aid of an off-duty flight attendant named Cindy, and instructs her to follow Sully to a shopping mall. Cindy first assumes that Matrix is a maniac, but after seeing him desperately trying to get his hands on Sully, she has a change of heart and henceforth assists him in his endeavor. After a lengthy car chase, Matrix catches up with Sully whom he drops off a cliff to his death. Matrix finds a key to a hotel in Sully's car.

Sully was supposed to rendezvous with Bill Cooke at a hotel, but Matrix surprised Cooke and caught him off guard. Bill Cooke was particularly upset with Matrix after the death of his twin brother Mac in Val Verde the year before. Matrix overtakes Bill and kills him, but was able to find out where Jenny was being held. He then breaks into a surplus store to equip himself with military weapons, but the police arrive and Matrix is arrested. Cindy helps him escape, and after commandeering a seaplane from a nearby marina controlled by Arius, Matrix and Cindy land the plane off the coast of Arius' island hideout. Matrix instructs Cindy to contact General Kirby and then proceeds to Arius' villa, kills Arius' entire private militia of Val Verdian Loyalists, and subsequently confronts and kills Arius in a gunfight.

Matrix locates Jenny in the basement of the villa, where she has fled and was cornered by Bennett. After a fierce struggle, Matrix finally kills Bennett. Kirby arrives with a military detachment and asks Matrix to rejoin the Special Forces Unit but Matrix declines and departs the island aboard the seaplane with Jenny and Cindy. Matrix and Cindy then become romantically involved and the three retire at their Mount Baldy home.