Matteo

**Matteo** is a member of the Perihelions crew, which gathers information for anti-corporate activities and strikes out against corporations. When they and their crewmates are kidnapped in Network Effect and separated, they're in the group that escapes being implanted and reaches the planet.

## Biography

Not much is known about their pre-Network Effect history beyond that they are affiliated with the Pansystem University of Mihira and New Tideland.

At the start of Network Effect, the Perihelion's crew had received word that Barish-Estranza was turning its attention towards the Lost Colony, so the crew set out to reach it first. They intend to block Barish-Estranza from re-enslaving the colony and, if possible, to make new allies.

Before they can reach the colony, they're intercepted and captured by lost colonists who'd hijacked a Barish-Estranza shuttle and were looking for a ship that could travel further. Three of the Perihelion's crew are given implants made of Pre-Corporation-Rim technology and alien code, much like the ones already implanted on the Lost Colonists. Matteo and the other unaffected crewmates are approached by a sympathetic colonist, who smuggles them to the Lost Colony's surface in an attempted rescue. The colonist dies in the attempt, and Matteo, Seth, Iris, Tarik, and Kaede continue on to the surface alone, where they're immediately stranded: they have nowhere safe in the colony to go, and no way to return to their ship.

They're struggling to reactivate the lift pod when fighting breaks out among the colonists, triggered by the arrival of Murderbot's drop box. Murderbot, Thiago and Overse reach out, coordinating their rescue. Seth and the others recognize everyone by the Perihelion enviro-suits they're wearing, and Murderbot by the pictures ART showed them previously.

They make it back to the Perihelion, but Murderbot is captured in the process. Once they regroup they immediately coordinate a rescue, and soon Murderbot is safe as well. Matteo and Kaede work together to help purge Murderbot from its targetControlSys infection.

They're stranded in the system, since Perihelion's warp capability is damaged, until an armed ship from the Preservation Alliance arrives some days later. It is recruited for the Perihelion's side and helps them in the aftermath.

## Personality

When Murderbot asks for information about the Colonist's situation, Matteo is the main dissenting voice over whether the Lost Colonists are being affected by a hivemind, before Seth cuts everyone off.

## Physical Appearance

Matteo is about the same size as Iris and Kaede, and has lots of dark hair. Usually it's all kept in braids, but when Murderbot finds them their hair is starting to come loose.

When Murderbot first meets them, they're noted as having bruises and torn, blood-stained clothes (like everyone else in their group). More specifically, they also have blood crusted along their hairline and bleeding fingers from trying to open a lift pod with no tools.

## References

1. ↑ *Iris said, “We’re fairly sure the alien hivemind thing is a group delusion.” “It has to be a delusion,” Tarik said. He swayed a little and Seth steadied him. “It doesn’t have to be a delusion—” Matteo began, and Kaede and Iris both started to object. Seth said firmly, “I do not want to hear this argument again.”* Chapter Fifteen, Network Effect.
2. ↑ *Matteo tucked their hands under their armpits. They were small like Iris and Kaede, and had a lot of dark hair that had come loose from braids.* Chapter Fifteen, Network Effect
3. ↑ *They all had bruises, blood-stained and torn clothes, [...] Matteo, who had blood crusted along their*
hairline and bleeding fingers from trying to get the lift pod open with no tools, said impatiently, “Has it been longer than two minutes or is that just me?” *Chapter Fifteen, Network Effect*