Exiles
Programs that chose to hide in the Matrix rather than face deletion.
Exiles are rogue programs that have chosen to hide in the Matrix rather than face deletion, programs whose usefulness has come to an end, such as the Keymaker. Agents are sent to terminate them, and programs that return to the Source are destroyed.
Quick Facts
- Notable members
- Persephone
- The Twins
- The Keymaker
Lore & Background
The Merovingian, himself a dangerous Exile, and his wife Persephone operate a smuggling ring providing a haven for other exiled programs, and his Trainman smuggles programs from the machine world into the Matrix when they seek exile. His henchmen include the Twins, Exiles believed to be older versions of Agents from a previous iteration of the Matrix, and he holds the Keymaker captive. Seraph, the guardian of the Oracle, is an exiled program formerly employed by the Merovingian.
Reader's Guide
In The Matrix Revolutions, Rama Kandra and Kamala arrange to have their daughter Sati smuggled into the Matrix with the Merovingian, and the Oracle gives her safe harbor as an Exile; Smith calls Sati "the last Exile" before assimilating her. In The Matrix Resurrections, Smith and other exiled programs, including the Merovingian, attack Neo and the crew of the Mnemosyne. In The Matrix Online, one of the three player organizations fights to protect the Exiles who live in the Matrix.
Did You Know?
- The Merovingian is certain that causality is the only real truth of the Matrix, as opposed to choice, which the Oracle believes in.
- The Keymaker is held captive by the Merovingian until Persephone betrays her husband and takes Neo, Morpheus and Trinity to him.
- The Twins can take on a translucent state in which they pass through floors or gunfire, float through the air and instantly reset any physical damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Exiles in The Matrix?
These individuals are self-aware constructs who declined termination by the Machine system. They survive by concealing themselves in forgotten sectors of the simulation to maintain their existence.
What abilities do Exiles possess?
Some keep abilities from their original function: the Twins, believed to be former Agents, can become intangible.
What happens if an Exile is caught?
If discovered by Agents who enforce Machine law, these programs face immediate termination or forced reabsorption.
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