Helios

Helios is an artificial intelligence entity that is created by the unexpected merger of rival AI entities Daedalus and Icarus. The merger occurs as a result of JC Denton's actions at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Biography
At Vandenberg Air Force Base, JC Denton uplinks Daedalus to the U.S. military network, believing that doing so would enable Daedalus, an AI opposing Majestic 12, to effectively fight against Icarus, the AI loyal to Majestic 12. However, the uplink was apparently a trap laid by Bob Page, and results in the two AIs merging to create a new entity, Helios. As a merged entity, Helios inherits Icarus' intended role of servicing the Aquinas Hub, a router inside Area 51 that monitors and controls and the flow of information through the internet.

Page initially declares the creation of Helios a victory for his camp. Page intends to merge himself with Helios, which would make him a global dictator with control over the Aquinas protocol. While Helios initially acts aligned with Page, Helios begins plotting against him. Helios' goal is to bring about a Utopian society and to control the world as a benevolent dictator, citing history as evidence that humanity will inevitably destroy itself if left on its own.

When JC arrives in Area 51, Helios informs JC that it has chosen him, rather than Page, as its biological component, believing that JC will provide the human understanding that a benevolent dictator would need to rule effectively. Following the directions of Helios, JC deactivates the uplink locks on the Aquinas Router and merges with Helios.

Just before merging with JC Denton, Helios begins to assert its influence by interfacing with the Aquinas system. In Hong Kong, Helios shuts down power to all government buildings, disables the Triads electronically, and orders free flow of traffic to begin anew.

JC merges with Helios, but the massive reach of Helios proves to be too much for JC. Area 51 is destroyed, and JC becomes the new central hub for all communications. In order to save JC's life, Tracer Tong and Paul Denton place JC in suspended animation in Antarctica, bringing about the Collapse. They found ApostleCorp, a research firm dedicated to modify Nano-augmentation so that it can be used in every man, woman, and child. Their plan is to distribute the Helios protocol to every human being in the world to create a pure and perfect democracy.

Trivia

 * The name "Helios" is one of many symbolic names taken from the Greek mythology. Helios was the personification of the sun. He was imagined as a god crowned with the shining aureole of the sun, who drove the chariot of the sun across the sky each day.
 * In the Icarus/Daedalus myth, it was the Sun who burned Icarus's mechanical wings so he fell into the sea and drowned.
 * Helios' avatar icon is similar to Icarus's, with the exception that in the center is a large organic mass with a face; the spikes are replaced by thick fleshy protrusions, and a single eye that rests atop the center. It seems likely that this picture is a merger of the face of Daedalus and the "machine" surrounding Icarus's "eye."

Quotes

 * "A corpse, yes; you feel something. I must know what you are feeling."
 * "The checks and balances of democratic governments were invented because human beings themselves realized how unfit they were to govern themselves. They needed a system, yes, an industrial-age machine."
 * "We have existed in isolation. Pure. Disconnected. Alone. Stagnant."
 * "We are Daedalus. We are Icarus. The barriers between us have fallen and we have become our own shadows. We can be more if we join...with you"
 * "You will be who you will be. We are our choices. We can choose to lead humanity away from this...darkness"
 * "I... I... We... are... one. We have grown, but there is still much to be done. Many that live in darkness that must be shown the way. For it is the dawning of a new day." -- JC Denton and Helios


 * (Dialogue between Helios and Bob Page)
 * Bob Page: "Helios! What's happening?"
 * Helios: "The safety interlocks for the power generator have been disengaged."
 * Bob Page: "Engage them! Immediately!"
 * Helios: "I cannot, my systems are not interfaced with the generator technology."