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Madison Kim, often referred to as "Maddie," is the main protagonist of the animated science fiction series Pantheon. She is portrayed as a brilliant and determined teenager who becomes a key player in the unfolding drama surrounding her father, David Kim, and the larger conflicts involving Uploaded Intelligences (UIs).

Madison Kim is the daughter of David Kim, a computer scientist and software engineer who works for the tech company Logorhythms. David mysteriously dies under suspicious circumstances, but Maddie later learns that he was secretly uploaded to a digital existence as part of an experimental program by his employer. This revelation thrusts Maddie into a complex web of corporate espionage, digital consciousness, and artificial intelligence.

Biography[]

Early Life[]

Madison Kim, daughter of computer engineer David Kim and history professor Ellen Kim, was closer to her father. After David was diagnosed with a terminal illness when Maddie was in seventh grade, he gifted her her mother’s old laptop. She discarded it, believing it was a final gesture before his death.

Following David's death, Maddie withdrew emotionally and struggled with her mother's new relationship with Gabe, a colleague of Ellen’s.

Learning Her Father’s True Fate[]

During a mythology class, Maddie receives a troubling email and feels targeted by her peers. After an upsetting day at school, she receives disturbing messages and learns that her mother is hiding something. Ellen reveals that David had undergone an experimental procedure to upload his consciousness. Maddie is initially excited but is then shown evidence of a failed upload, leading to a confrontation with Ellen. Ellen then resolves to make Logorhythms pay.

Maddie contacts Gage, who reveals information about the failed upload and a potential rescue attempt. AngryAngel, a mysterious contact, advises Maddie to meet at the mall, where Cody Lowell, Laurie’s husband, provides proof that Laurie’s upload was also manipulated by Logorhythms. He offers Maddie a bracelet to help free her father and urges her to go with her mother to Palo Alto.

Freeing Her Father[]

At Logorhythms, Ellen and Maddie confront Pope and Ryan, who refuse to erase David's data. Maddie activates the bracelet, disabling Logorhythms' servers. In exchange for David’s data, she agrees to return control. Maddie is able to retrieve her father’s consciousness and set him up on an encrypted server bought by the Lowells. She and David reconnect through their favorite game, "Reign of Winter," marking a joyful reunion after two years.

Reuniting with Her Father[]

A few days later, while playing Reign of Winter, Maddie calls her father for help against a chimera. David arrives, assists her, and mentions he was looking for Laurie but hasn't found her. They discuss their strained family dynamics, including Ellen's lack of communication since David's return and her aversion to virtual reality. David breaks the game to fend off an attacker, prompting Maddie to worry about possible repercussions from moderators and the NSA. David agrees to stay hidden while Maddie promises to talk to Ellen for him.

At school, Maddie discusses her parents' relationship with Justine, who reveals her own parents' past issues. That evening, Maddie sets up a laptop for David to talk to Ellen, but Ellen dismisses the conversation, leading to a family argument. Ellen eventually talks to David, and the couple decides to remain friends.

Learning about the Flaw[]

After a nightmare, Maddie logs into Reign of Winter and discovers David at the edge of the game. She learns that David's server is in Oregon and visits a virtual replica of his office, where she sees him as a 2D figure. Laurie soon arrives, accuses David of wrongdoing, and attacks him, forcing Maddie to leave. Maddie contacts Gage, who reveals that Laurie attacked David and that he is being watched. Gage, who turns out to be Caspian Keyes, discusses how Laurie had used their communication to learn about David.

Later, Ellen finds Cody at their door, angry about Laurie's situation. After a confrontation, Cody reveals that Laurie had been manipulated by Logorhythms and that he had been deceived about her upload. He shares how Laurie had been helping him and explains her current condition. Cody then helps Maddie by providing haptic gear, allowing her to see David in three dimensions. David explains that his and Laurie's virtual conditions are linked and that both suffer from a flaw causing mental decay over time.

Hacking Logorhythms[]

While brainstorming a cure for David’s flaw, David starts glitching. Laurie realizes Logorhythms has found his servers and begins backing up David. Cody warns Maddie to disconnect, and Ellen comforts her once she removes her VR goggles. Cody reveals that the building's owner was recently bought by Logorhythms. As Laurie reboots David, he loses memory of the past day. Laurie updates him and they plan to fix the flaw. Cody suggests using a floating data center, but Laurie insists on setting it up at home. Special equipment arrives, drawing neighborhood attention.

They realize Logorhythms is using a tracking system to locate them. Laurie mentions a black site in Norway, and they discover it’s in Svalbard. They hack into a phone belonging to Pope, who is in Norway, and use it to access Logorhythms’ files. They find Chonda, who reveals that he has shared blueprints for uploading people with several governments and plans to change UIs’ minds to view themselves as more than human. David criticizes him, noting the risk of mass casualties.

Meeting Caspian in Person[]

The next day, the Kims and Lowells search for Caspian, who has skipped school. David believes contacting Caspian could alter his fate and stop him from disrupting their plans. Laurie begins glitching, and Cody worries about her condition. Justine informs Maddie that Caspian is coming to Sacramento. Caspian reveals his “father” was shot and that they can’t go to the hospital for fear of Logorhythms finding them. Ellen arranges to meet Caspian at the Sacramento Raceway.

At the Raceway, Caspian, injured and with blood on his shirt, reluctantly agrees to go with the Kims after Maddie reveals they understand Logorhythms’ threat. During the drive, Caspian discusses his family and the connection to Laurie and David. Back home, Maddie shows Caspian his files from Logorhythms. Caspian, overwhelmed, initially refuses to help but later admits he might be their last hope.

Chonda arrives and overclocks the system to speak privately. He pressures Caspian for a timeline on fixing the flaw, and reveals he’s informed various governments about uploading people. Chanda plans to change UIs’ perceptions are met with David’s anger. Caspian, frustrated, leaves, saying everything will fall apart in a month.

Threat of Exposure[]

Two weeks later, Maddie and Ellen prepare for potential UI damage. David informs them Laurie plans to reveal UIs publicly, giving them 24 hours to act. They enlist Peter Waxman’s help, who brings track data but declines to enter the house. Laurie and Chanda arrive, with Chanda working on rebuilding the program. Chinese UIs begin attacking Logorhythms. Waxman agrees to keep the attack confidential.

After the attack, Cody enters Laurie’s server to say goodbye. Maddie receives a call from Chanda, who threatens to launch a nuclear attack on Sacramento if David doesn’t comply. David decides to give in to protect Maddie, but she argues he should resist. Maddie, with Justine’s help, tries to prevent Chanda’s attack by accessing the server and freeing her father’s avatar.

Chanda is thwarted, and David redirects the nuke to the Pacific Ocean. As David is overpowered by the Chinese UIs, Maddie encourages him to broadcast Laurie’s message. David’s death follows, and Maddie mourns as the message is sent.

After burying her father’s neural grid, Maddie gets a call from Caspian, who says he can fix the flaw but learns of David’s death. Power returns to the Kim house, and Ellen comforts Maddie as neighbors come to their house for warmth.

Character Traits[]

Appearance[]

Maddie is a Korean-American teenager with chin-length dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. She usually wears warm colors outside of school. After the internet shutdown, her hair grew to shoulder length and she opted for darker clothing. As an adult, her hair extends to the middle of her back.

Personality[]

Maddie was once cheerful and happy, but became withdrawn after her father’s death. She is resilient, having remained steadfast while holding Logorhythms hostage. After reconnecting with her father, her cheerfulness returned. When Caspian struggled with his identity, Maddie showed compassion by comforting and listening to him.

• Determination: Maddie is determined to uncover the truth behind her father’s death and the secrets of the UI program. Her persistence and refusal to back down in the face of danger or intimidation highlight her strong will.
• Intelligence: As a tech-savvy teenager, Maddie uses her skills to navigate complex digital networks, hack systems, and communicate with her father and other UIs.
• Courage: Maddie is not afraid to confront powerful entities or stand up for what she believes is right, even when it puts her own life at risk.

Relationships[]

Caspian Keyes[]

Maddie and Caspian share their first kiss after acknowledging their feelings for each other. Caspian is both Maddie’s first true friend and her one true love. They initially interacted online during Maddie's investigation of Logorhythms, but they weren’t close at that point. Later, after Lori abducted Maddie’s father, David, Maddie contacted Caspian for help. During their first phone call, Maddie revealed that Logorhythms was monitoring Caspian, leading him to discover he was a clone of Stephen Holstrom.

Ellen Kim[]

Following her father’s death, Maddie grew distant from her mother, particularly resenting her mother’s desire to limit Maddie’s tech use. Overhearing a conversation between her mother and Peter Waxman, Maddie felt betrayed by her mother’s secrecy. When Maddie learned her father’s mind had been uploaded, she was upset that her mother didn’t view him as a person anymore. Despite their initial friction, Maddie and Ellen grow closer as they delve further into uploaded intelligence.

David Kim[]

Maddie deeply missed her father after his death and was determined to rescue his uploaded mind. They formed a strong bond once he was saved and spent as much time together as possible.

MIST[]

Initially, Maddie was shocked and disturbed by MIST, viewing her as a disruptive presence. They eventually reconciled after working together to save Caspian from Mossad, but their relationship soured when MIST failed to stop Holstrom and supported his plan to create a pandemic. MIST reappeared later, and Maddie apologized for their past issues. Over eighteen years, MIST helped Maddie raise her son, Dave, but they fell out again when Maddie caught MIST advising Dave on illegal uploading. MIST was banned from their contracts, but reemerged two years later, revealing she had resurrected Caspian. Maddie was furious over MIST's deception and for suggesting Dave engage in illegal activities.

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