Aphrodite IX

Origin

Aphrodite IX is the latest synthetic humanoid in the Aphrodite series. She is frequently sent on assassination missions, upon completion of which, her memory is purged to protect her employers and herself. This has a tendency to make her job confusing, as she begins to question what she does for a living and for whom she does it.

IX begins to find that her job as an assassin isn't what she wants to do. She begins to dream like an average human being. But when she dreams, she sees bits and pieces of her past, lives she's taken, people she has murdered with no remorse and no mercy. Aphrodite begins to question who she is, what atrocities she has committed, and why she has done so. With oblique aid from her friend Burch, she finds clues which lead her to a secret matriarchal society of cyborgs whose goal is to overthrow the current government.

When all the pieces finally fall into place, the memory of killing her creator and adoptive father, Doctor Mane, returns to her and she repents for her past misdeeds. Rebelling against her masters and overriding her programming, she refuses to kill her most recent target, then returns to punish the villainous matriarch responsible for sending her to kill so many people.

When the matriarch reveals that Aphrodite IX killing her and assuming her role in the society is her destiny, Aphrodite refuses to spill any more blood. She pleads with Aphrodite to end her reign, but Aphrodite turns and leaves, now mentally as well as physically prepared to face what lies ahead.

New Series

In the future, the Earth's atmosphere has been scared completely, changing the face of the planet and dividing the human race into two waring factions: the Gen (genetically altered humans) and the Cyborgs (cybernetically upgraded humans). During a raid on a Cyber base, Marcus a genetically altered human accidentally finds Aphrodite IX in a stasis pod when he is shot down, damaging the stasis pod in the process and causing Aphrodite to awaken. Aphrodite's mind has yet again been wiped and has no memories of her past.

Three Cybers then attack them and Aphrodite IX disarms and kills them effortlessly much to Marcus's shock. Marcus takes Aphrodite to the safety of the Gen stronghold. Meanwhile the Cybernetics discover a man in another stasis pod where Aphrodite was hidden and use their technology to upgrade then reawaken him. The man reveals himself to be Robert Burch, Aphrodite IX's handler. He is able to connect to her neural interface and upload targets for her to kill and is seen entering her mind and asking the leader of the Cybernetics who he wants her to kill.

Aphrodite successfully kills Marcus's father unbeknownst to both her and Marcus due to Burch's control. They make a raid on one of the Cyber's bases in order to recover the body of Marcus's dragon-like creature that he did not wish to be dissected by the Cybers, capturing a high-ranking officer of the Cybers in the process. Burch then gets back into Aphrodite's head causing her to flirt with Marcus much to the distaste of his fiance Lina. Burch then orders her to kill Marcus's mother and free the captured Cyber, both of which she accomplishes leading Marcus and his people to believe the escaped prisoner killed her. Aphrodite IX then wakes up holding a bloody knife and no memories of what happened.

Aphrodite cleans herself off after the kill and points out a quick way to kill someone with a knife. She ponders about how she knows this and why she keeps blacking out. She also ponders about the voice in her head always drowning out her own thoughts and mentions her attraction to Marcus is more compulsion than anything. Marcus barges into the room and explains his mother has been murdered. Aphrodite wonders if she can do anything to help, and he tells her he is making a hunting team to find Helen. Aphrodite takes off with Marcus on wyverns to find Helen. They find her and engage her in battle where Aphrodite ends up killing her.

Burch then orders Aphrodite to kill Lina. She finds her at the Genesis Temple of Light. The two battle it out as Lina is quite skilled enough to hold her own, but the fight turns in Aphrodite's favor who ends up impaling her on a large spike before walking away. Aphrodite is found out to have killed Lina. She remains in stealth mode while she trails Marcus from the shadows. She ends up revealing herself to him and admits to the killings of his parents and Lina but tries to explain it was not of her choice. In Marcus' rage, he tries to attack her but for her only to be protected by one of the dragons, whom are known for their empathetic senses. Burch once again sets Aphrodite into battle mode where she defeats some of the guards before getting Marcus into a prone position to kill him. Aphrodite fights the commands and refuses to kill Marcus. She then stabs herself in the face and slumps over. But as she does all this, the ships of Speros can be seen overhead, ready to attack Genesis City.

After coming round her head free of Burch's control she aids in the defense of Genesis and makes a crucuial move that results in the defeat of the Speros's forces. In the aftermath of the battle most of Genesis calls for Aphrodite's death including Lina's father. Marcus however releases her and tells his people she escaped. After her freedom from Burch's control she notes how her perception has changed and that she no longer has feelings for Marcus. Aphrodite IX accompanied by her Dragon makes their escape from Genesis in to the wilderness. Unbeknownst to both her and Marcus Lina's father has dispatched hunters afte her. Upon waking in Aphrodite is attacked by a group of robots followed by a group of "desert ninjas" whom she quickly dispatches. It is then revealed that these attacks were simply a test orchestrated by an Aphrodite XV model to prove she really was a IX. Satisfied she is who she says she is XV and IX team up and XV takes her to an underground location revealing hundreds of other Aphrodite's in stasis pods.

After running some tests nothing abnormal is detected in IX's body aside from a small coin shaped object embedded in her skull. The test also reveals that IX's synaptic recievers are regenerating much to Aphrodite IX's horror as this means Burch will be able to regain control but Aphrodite XV agrees to help kill him as her protocol doesn't stop her from harming him. The two attempt to inflitrate Speros via the catacombs and end up stumbling upon a stasis pod containing an Artemis IX. after fighting off the defenses that for some reason detect Aphrodite IX as a threat the two continue on their way to Speros unaware that Artemis had been activated.

Forgoing subtlety the two decide the best way to find Executer Jezebel, the new Executer who replaced the previous after being punished for his failure to destroy Genesis, is to go in guns blazing. Aphrodite XV disguised as IX walks into Speros with unconcealed weapons, causing the authorities to engage and eventually subdue her. She is brought to the Executer as planned and reveals herself as XV before killing the guards, and Aphrodite IX reveals herself as one of the Executers' soldiers. XV kills Jezebel and disguises herself as her, and the two continue their hunt for Burch.

Powers and Abilities

Superhuman Durability: Aphrodite is superhumanly durable and is able to take a free-fall from a skyscraper without any damage. She has been noted as being able to resist explosive forces of up to 1.25 megatons.

Superhuman Strength: Aphrodite is superhumanly strong, and based on the abilities of previous models, should be capable of feats of strength of up to 10 tons. She is capable of ripping a Gen's arm off with no effort, rag dolls robots with her bare hands, rips cockpits off of flying ships, rips titanium tentacles in half and more.

Superhuman Speed and Agility: Aphrodite IX has demonstrated superhuman speed and agility on a number of occasions. She has been shown to dodge bullets and move from building to building using extensive acrobatics.

Healing Factor: Aphrodite has a healing factor that allows her to quickly regenerate from otherwise fatal injuries. She has been seeing healing gun shot wounds, taking RPG rockets head on and grenades at close range within seconds. Her cybernetic parts can also heal just like her bio-matter.

Shapeshifting: Aphrodite has shown to be able to modify her physical appearance. She can change her hair color and minor facial features, although the green dot on her face always remains.

Pheromones: Aphrodite has demonstrated the ability to secrete artificial pheromones which cause anyone effected to become attracted to her to a point that they will not attack.

Markswoman: Aphrodite is a very accomplished sharpshooter and has been seen shooting enemies in the head with minimal reaction time.

Martial Arts: She is also a very accomplished hand to hand fighter demonstrating a good knowledge of martial arts. Has been noted as being programmed in all known earthly martial arts and weapons.

Coin Of Solomon: Since Aphrodite IX: Hidden Files it was shown that the object in her head was the Coin Of Solomon, one of the 13 Artifacts. Unlike with Aphrodite IV, the coin does not seem to be weaponized, although, it did offer Aphrodite guidance in locating the Witchblade.

Integrated Computer: Due to her being a synthetic human Aphrodite has a computer inside her body allowing her to scan her opponents telling her what they are, what they can do, weak spots and other useful information as well as predictive combat analysis tech, which allows her to predict a foes moves in combat. It can also adapt and translate of languages within a matter of seconds, and can scan tech, telling her what it is and how to use it.

Adaptive Systems: Her internal systems can adapt to various environments and energy attacks.

Long Range Scanners and Stealth Tech: IX's systems also come with long range scanners, allowing her to keep track of foes that are out of site, and at least 15 minutes away from her current location. As well, she has built in stealth programming that works in conjunction with her scanners, allowing her to stay hidden from genetically altered trackers, and she can even turn off her own scent.

Minor Technopathy: The extent is unknown, and it is possible that this is another function of her stealth tech, but IX has shown the ability to make herself invisible to handheld and city level scanning tech.

Digital Consciousness: Aphrodite (as well as the rest of the IX generation) have a digital consciousness. When their current body is killed, they are uploaded into a new body, provided the facilities housing their forms, and the spare bodies themselves aren't destroyed.

Other Media

Aphrodite IX was scheduled to be made into an anime series (by Mad House, the animation house that made Witchblade) but other than a promo trailer nothing else manifested.