Get to know

Jonathan Edward Holland

Basic Information:

Name: Jonathan Edward Holland

Age: Born 1945 (age varies by timeline; 20 in 1965, presumed mid- to late-30s in 1983)

Date of Birth: 1945

Gender: Male

Occupation: MI-6 Agent (spy), covert operative, later Network pawn

Role in the Story: Catalyst/Shadow Protagonist (his actions and secrets drive the plot, though he is often absent or presumed dead)

Appearance:

Height: Not explicitly stated; implied to be average to tall

Build: Lean, athletic

Hair Color/Style: Not specified; likely dark or brown, kept neat (fits MI-6 background)

Eye Color: Silver (distinctive, inherited by Chastity)

Distinguishing Features: Intense, silver eyes; carries himself with a quiet intensity; often seen in tailored suits or trench coats

Style of Dress: Understated but sharp (tailored suits, trench coat, fedora in youth)

General Impression: Calm, controlled, and quietly formidable; others sense a man shaped by sacrifice and secrets

Personality:

Core Traits: Loyal, secretive, self-sacrificing, intelligent, emotionally reserved

Strengths: Espionage, codebreaking, tactical thinking, emotional endurance, loyalty to family

Weaknesses: Overly secretive, compartmentalizes emotions, struggles with trust, haunted by past sacrifices

Likes/Dislikes: Enjoys jazz (scene in Kotor), values loyalty and competence; dislikes betrayal, emotional vulnerability, and the Network

Fears/Insecurities: Fears endangering his family, being used as a pawn, failing his loved ones

Motivations: Protect his family at all costs, stop the Network, atone for past mistakes

Biggest Secret: Survived his supposed death in 1970; was held and manipulated by the Network, his mind altered for their rituals

Background/History:

Family:

Parents: Edward Patrick Holland (Irish scholar, MI-6 ties), Roseleen "Rosie" Keane Holland (codebreaker, disappeared in Berlin)

Spouse: Lillian Margaret Chamberlain-Holland

Children: Chastity Claire and Katelyn Marie Holland

Upbringing: Raised in a family of spies and codebreakers; childhood marked by secrets and loss (mother’s disappearance)

Key Life Events:

First solo MI-6 mission in Kotor, 1965 (meets Lillian)

Marriage to Lillian, birth of daughters

Fateful mission in Berlin, 1970—ambushed, presumed dead, actually taken by the Network

Education/Training: MI-6 training, codebreaking, espionage, tactical operations

Past Relationships: Deep bond with Lillian; professional relationships in MI-6; estranged from family due to secrets

Relationships:

Important Relationships:

Lillian (wife, complex love and trust issues)

Chastity and Katelyn (daughters, his absence shapes their lives)

Romantic Interests: Lillian (intense, dangerous, built on mutual understanding and secrets)

Friendships: Few, mostly professional; trusted MI-6 contacts

Enemies/Allies: The Network (enemy), MI-6 (ally, then distant)

Skills/Abilities:

Physical Skills: Espionage, hand-to-hand combat, firearms, stealth

Mental Skills: Codebreaking, strategic planning, psychological manipulation

Special Abilities: Multilingual (implied by MI-6 work), adept at encryption and decryption

Conflict/Story Role:

Internal Conflict: Guilt over abandoning family, struggle with being used as a pawn, fear of losing self to the Network

External Conflict: Opposed by the Network, hunted by enemies, and family distrust

Arc: From loyal agent and father to absent, manipulated pawn; his legacy and secrets force his family to confront the truth and unite

Goal/Endgame: Protect his family, destroy the Network’s plans, reclaim his agency

Quotes/Dialogue:

Favorite Quote: “You look like you’re hunting something.”

Catchphrases/Mannerisms: Quiet, measured speech; often uses coded language; “I claim” (mirrored in Lillian’s dialogue)