Aphrodite Holmes

Official Art by TofuSlaw

## History

Aphrodite Holmes, or 'XR3100' was a synthetic humanoid Artificial Intelligence (AI) with a complex personality matrix. Construction starting in 1902 by Parthenon's own in-house laboratories, Holmes was one of the first of an experimental AI formed to create a synthetic being capable of rational thinking and emotional experiences. The objective of the project was that such individuals would eventually be able to replace organic operatives in the field, lessening the harm to organic life. This however proved to be an issue to the Parthenon Ethics Committee, who deemed the AI to be too advanced in personality, and therefore constituting a 'sentient life-form'. From this point the project was ended, only four humanoid AI, including Aphrodite, were created.

Holmes was given an identity within Parthenon as an intelligence operative, as well as the treatment other organic life would get. In fact, her status as a synthetic life-form was not disclosed to personnel and the general public outside of a need-to-know basis. During this period, Aphrodite was assigned to Epsilon Squad alongside Agamemnon Direheart, Artemis Fogg, Dante Feu'Coeur, and Tiber Solhymne. She became good friends with them bonding quite quickly, and even attaining a form emotional connection to them. Her status as a synthetic was unknown by all members of the squad save Agamemnon. This was the case until one mission where her arm was cut off, leading to her discovery as a robot by the other members of her team. This did not however seem to affect their friendship, which continued on.

After the Fall of Parthenon in 1916, Aphrodite was split by circumstances from the rest of Epsilon, instead assisting the remnants of Zeta Squad, as well as Faepora Direheart, and her daughter Alexa Direheart. Through her strategic prowess, the group were able to escape London and the clutches of the Inquisition, eventually arriving at an abandoned Roman-era church sunken into the marshes of southern England. From there, Zeta moved on to Europe on their own mission, whilst Aphrodite, Faepora, and Alexa were able to rendezvous with Fracture, Theodora Park-Lee, and Enya McCloud. From there, the group escaped the British Isles to the Atlantic island of Montserrat.

In Montserrat, the group found Professor Alice Polyakov had taken over as interim Secretary-General of Parthenon, claiming Montserrat to be the new centre of operations. At first they were welcomed and felt safe amongst the other survivors of the fall, however it soon became clear that not everything was at seemed on Montserrat. Aphrodite and her friends soon discovered that Polyakov was performing experiments on dark energy, and had actually been exiled there by former Secretary-General Alimina Direheart for an unknown reason. It quickly became apparent that they were prisoners on the island rather than guests, leading them to formulate a plan of escape. The attempted escape was successful, however Aphrodite was 'killed' during it, her programming being over-ridden by Polyakov to serve her, culminating in her own destruction. However parts of her robotic body were retrieved by the escapees.

## Personal

Despite being a synthetic being, Aphrodite is able to feel emotions, this however has been observed as being learnt over time. Upon her creation and initial deployment, Holmes was cold and calculating, having little to say to her teammates apart from what was relevant to the mission. Over time she seemed to develop a personality, eventually being able to understand jokes and even contribute to them, although comedic interaction was never her forte. She is not quick to anger, even in stressful situations, always providing a cool-head for planning and strategic discussion; despite this she is protective of her friends and comrades, even putting herself in harm's way to protect them.

Holmes herself has dark skin and blonde hair, she most resembles an individual hailing from Anatolia in the Ottoman Empire. Her accent is London English, and has been compared to that of a presenter for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

## Relationships

* Alimina Direheart - Friend and superior officer.
* Faepora Direheart - Best friend and comrade.
* Agamemnon Direheart - Squadmate and friend.
* Artemis Fogg - Squadmate and friend.
* Tiber Solhymne - Squadmate and friend.
* Dante Feu'Coeur - Squadmate and friend.

## Trivia

* Aphrodite was one of the first original characters developed for Of Gods and Machines.

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