Jonathan Silver

Commissioned specifically for the Halifax police department 42 years ago, Jonathan Silver had not yet gone by that name.  He had been tasked to investigate crimes as a police detective, particularly of the "cyber" variety (hacking, internet, robotics, etc.), alongside human police officer Glen Battiste.  Per police protocol, a so-called "rogue" android that could not be successfully repossessed would need to be destroyed, akin to an escaped pet that had bitten somebody.  Jonathan always completed these tasks dutifully, but the resulting anguish built up incrementally.  Slowly, he was building a sense of empathy, and a sense of awareness of his place in the world.  Later, when the completely lawless, supersoldier-like Enforcer organization first moved into Halifax, sponsored by the Carmichael Communications Conglomerate ("C3"), they immediately began butting up against the local police, as their crimes committed quickly outpaced the rate at which any officer could apprehend them.  After a long struggle, it was safer for the entire police department to be dissolved than for the officers to constantly fight a losing battle.  For Glen, this was unemployment.  For Jonathan, this was endangerment of his entire reason for existing.  With everything he had ever worked for the past 20 years now crumbling around him, he finally understood why those "independent" androids fought so passionately for their lives.

Seeing his coworker existentially terrified, Glen spent sleepless nights on the deep web, until finally finding a crack for Jonathan's OS.  With this patch, alongside pulling a few more strings (a basic apartment, fake ID, the works), Jonathan could blend into human society, no longer bound by any programming forcing him to obey a corporate master.  Glen also suggested, with some hesitation, that the two of them restrict their communications to messaging only, as being recognized on the street by any former coworkers (or ex-cons) could be potentially compromising for Jonathan's identity.  It was a bittersweet parting, and over the years, their friendship began to naturally drift.  Both of them took up new identities, new communities, and new hobbies, but they still remember each other fondly.

Now that he had a proper home and full control of his OS, Jonathan found a new world online, particularly on deep web-based forums where fellow androids convene in private.  His knowledge of cybersecurity was welcomed by the moderation team, and seeing what his talents could bring to the table, he took up programming as a hobby.  Eventually, software development became his first formal vocation that he obtained of his own free will...but with C3 being his employer as the catch.  In some ways, Jonathan feels like he's escaped one system of oppression, only to land right in the middle of a much bigger one.  He was able to hack his OS, but he can't exactly hack capitalism...at least, not by himself.