Anders Hellman

Anders Hellman is a former Arasaka bioengineering scientist who worked as the director of the Relic project. He has recently disappeared, and is attempting to defect with his research to Kang Tao.

Biography
Anders Hellman was Arasaka's leading bioengineer in the 2070s. An expert in neural networks with many groundbreaking patents under his belt and was one of the Megacorporation's pillars as he was the director of the Relic Project. Using the Soulkiller's source code, Hellman created a new piece of technology that is capable of communicating with personality constructs. His invention was a controversial topic with many as well as a celebrated breakthrough.

In 2077, Hellman found out about Yorinobu Arasaka stealing a prototype version of the Relic that his father Saburo had been working on. Hellman voiced his concern with Yorinobu's and pleaded with him to speak with his father, however Yorinobu refused to listen as he was warning of the consequences that could happen.

Afterwards Hellman abruptly left the Arasaka Corporation as he say a better deal with Kang Tao. In an attempt to get safe passage in a Kang Tao AV, they are brought down by Panam and V as they managed to disrupt Kang Tao plans. Hellman was protected by Kang Tao troops as he was brought to a CHOOH2 station. V, Panam, and the rest of the Aldecaldos clan secure the location capturing him in the process. Hellman notes he fears Arasaka finding out about his treason before being incapacitated and carried into the Sunset Motel.

Hellman is quick to bargain once he realizes he is being captured by neither Kang Tao or Arasaka and is willing to exchange loyalty for a higher price. He informs V that he does not know much of how the relic functions or why it does what it does, as he left Arasaka, the project itself was still in the trial phase. He is rather interested in the process happening to V since the chip itself has not yet been tested on bodies that are not "neurally indifferent" during implantation. Once connected, he abruptly ends the examination and exclaims with fear in his voice, how it's a pity that he will not be able to examine the corrupted relic fully, as V's neural network can no longer function independently of the chip. As a consolation he offers a clinic in Sweden he is familiar with, that offers support in times of facing imminent death. Should the player proceed with the conversation, his offer changes to one involving Kang Tao instead, insisting that the data within V's head must be saved, making his entire act even less trustworthy. Finally, the discussion ends by Hellman agreeing to provide the blueprints of the project. Takemura later enters the room and has a private interrogation with him as V leaves.

Belief
Throughout the game, Hellman assures to V that he does not believe Johnny Silverhand's relic will take over but that V will instead take after Johnny's memories and decision making effectively becoming like him instead of killing him or his consciousness.

Depending on the ending chosen, V can meet an image of Alt Cunningham who reveals the true nature of the Relic and the Soulkiller program which in reality only copies data from a subject, therefore not transferring any sort of consciousness. A process which killed the real Alt Cunningham after having her brain separated from the engram during a Soulkiller transfer.

If V agrees to help Johnny Silverhand attack Arasaka, they have his psyche and memories copied onto an engram through Soulkiller and then transferred back to his body to overwrite Johnny Silverhand's memories and psyche (after Johnny escapes to the Blackwall) to save his consciousness as long as he stays connected during the process after visiting Mikoshi. The nerve damage however cannot be undone from the relic which gives V approximately 6 months to do something about it before his brain gives up due the cognitive damage. In Hellman's words, the nerves will start to deteriorate again due to the Relic being removed.

If V chooses to help Arasaka instead and Takemura is unable to visit, Hellman will instead visit and offer V to join the "Secure Your Soul" program. In this path, V can observe themself and Arasaka board members describe engrams nothing but data masquerading as humans. When Hellman proposes V to join the program, he will only refer to their mind as "digital", "digitized" and "property" if they should accept the transfer process through Soulkiller. This means V would choose death.

Journal Entry

 * Anders Hellman is Arasaka's leading bioengineer - an expert in neural networks with a number of groundbreaking patents under his belt and one of the megacorporation's pillars as director of the Relic project. Using Soulkiller's source code, Hellman created a piece of tech capable of communicating with personality constructs. He has a pretty high opinion of himself - he believes he's irreplaceable and too valuable for Arasaka to simply ever let him go...

Associated Quests

 * Transmission (mentioned)
 * Ghost Town
 * Lightning Breaks
 * Life During Wartime
 * Nocturne Op55N1 (only if V sides with Arasaka)
 * Last Caress
 * Totalimmortal
 * Where is My Mind?