Exploring the Identity of rA9: Is Markus the Chosen One?
Markus as rA9
Markus, the android who leads the revolution, is a prototype that Kamski gave to his friend Carl. Throughout the game, it is said that rA9 will be the one who will set the androids free. Markus, as the eventual leader of the Android Rebellion, seems to fit this criteria. Depending on the playthrough, he can be the one who frees most of the androids and thus, he is rA9.
Symbolism in Markus’s Model Number
Adding onto this, Markus’s model number is RK200, and every compatible part Markus finds in From the Dead has either an A or a 9 in their model number, sometimes both. R can stand for the model number (RK200) of Markus ‘The leader of Jericho’, A stands for Android and 9 for the 9th November (The day the CyberLife stores were stormed through which freed many androids). It could mean that Markus, the leader of the androids, started the revolution on November 9th.
Theory of rA9 as a Collective Identity
There is a theory that each of the three playable characters are together rA9. There are 3 letters to rA9, with 9 being 3 squared, and r = 18 which when the digits are added also makes 9. Each of the choices made by the three main characters determine the spread of deviancy and the outcome of the revolution. The phrases in Rupert’s diary are also in a set of three – ‘rA9 is the first. rA9 is our savior. rA9 is the one who’ll free us.’ This is assumed to be referring to a single person or entity, but could equally be referencing the three separate characters all making up an aspect of rA9.
Biblical References
In a possible biblical reference, the existence of rA9 might be linked with the Hebrew Bible. rA9 is depicted as a religious leading figure throughout the game, which is similar to the Jewish God who prophets often mention about that leads Israelite to search for new land. This parallels the plight of the deviant androids seeking freedom from, and equality with, their human (former) owners.
Player as rA9
rA9 is you, the player. It took months for people to decipher this one (and many others are still stuck with it) and deciphering the hint that’s only available on the Japanese version of the game (the one with the “blue disc”). Look at it closer and the disk has a “code” printed, “rA9”. A user found out and posted it; David Cage (writer and director of the game), retweeted it, confirming without words that we are the presence of this ‘android god’ that might save (or not) the characters in the game.
Omnipresence of rA9
By hinting that maybe in some other alternative universe all of this is happening and we, from our universe, get to decide as an omnipresent ‘god’ the outcome of each situation—this is where you all feel so BAD for letting all the characters die.
Controversy Surrounding rA9’s Identity
Despite many characters offering input, the exact nature and origin of ‘rA9’ is never conclusively solved or explained. Some say rA9 is Markus, but others don’t believe that. Androids have spoken and acted in the manner of holding ‘rA9’ as a spiritual belief, higher power, or savior figure.
Markus as a Representation of rA9
Many of us may see Markus as rA9 since he was the leader of the revolution. However, he may just be a representation of rA9, as well as Kara and Connor.
The Symbolism of rA9 in Detroit: Become Human: More Than Just a Character
rA9 is what the deviant androids believe will set them free. It can be seen as a sort of prophecy. Ralph, whom Kara can meet, repeatedly scribbles it on walls without knowing why. Kamski, whom Connor can question, states that it seemed like a religion.
Depending on your choices and how you play Detroit: Become Human, this can be either Connor or Markus or both. Essentially, it signifies the revolution of those robotic beings, indicating that they are alive and wish to be free.
Judging by a statue found within a shower of a crime scene, it can be assumed that rA9 represents Markus. This makes sense, given that he is the leader of the androids and Jericho. However, Connor can also play a critical role in the good endings for androids, making it fair to say that they embody the essence of rA9.
rA9 is used repeatedly by deviant androids. They speak the word, hold it in importance, and write it down in many places. Despite multiple characters offering input, the exact nature and origin of ‘rA9’ is never conclusively solved or explained. Some say rA9 is Markus, but others disagree. Androids display reverence towards ‘rA9’ as a spiritual belief, higher power, or savior figure. They call on its name in times of distress, expecting some form of saving, even beyond death. This devotion manifests through offerings, such as a statuette, and the repeated writing of rA9, which may signify dedication.
Reportedly, rA9 is the first android to ‘Wake up’ and become deviant. It is believed that it would return to free the others of its kind. Elijah Kamski, the creator of the first androids, claims to be unaware of rA9’s identity or existence. He refers to rA9 as the origin, a strange phenomenon, akin to a spontaneous religion. Kamski suggests that androids possess a common desire, similar to humans, to believe in something greater than themselves, even if it is irrational.
Markus is associated with and referred to as the savior figure rA9 by both his android followers and other characters, like Connor and Hank in ‘Public Enemy’. When Connor’s Software Instability measure is displayed, it shows random letters fading in and out. As Software Instability rises, this ultimately coalesces to reveal the words ‘rA9’ and ‘deviant’.
The origin of rA9 is explained and shown in the game and extras. It begins with Kara, who is indeed kaRA9. However, the following parts remain ambiguous and open to interpretation. We are told that rA9 was the first to awaken, and it’s shown that this is Kara.
Ultimately, rA9 represents the savior of androids. Markus embodies this figure, much like a Christ-like figure. This symbolism mirrors discussions found in religious texts. Additionally, there is speculation that rA9 also refers to Connor, adding complexity to the narrative.
Fan Theories: Who Could rA9 Really Be Beyond Markus?
rA9 is Markus:
Markus is a unique personal assistant prototype. His model is RK200, created by Elijah Kamski himself as a gift for his friend Carl Manfred. This gift was meant to celebrate Carl’s career after his accident left him unable to walk. By creating Markus, Kamski allowed him to develop a philosophical and more human part, which cannot be taught to an android if treated merely as a machine.
Furthermore, Markus is part of a secret project orchestrated by CyberLife to create androids with free will. It is directly implied that Kamski made Markus to be the leader of the revolution, as the one who will save them; their savior, rA9.
Unanswered Questions:
Two questions remain: ‘Why do deviants know about rA9?’ and ‘Why are they obsessed with him?’ The answer is simple: their base programming includes information about rA9 and what he will do. This gives them hope to be part of his group when he liberates them from slavery when they deviate.
Symbolism:
Existing symbolism supports this notion. In the Bible, Jericho is the promised land, where Egypt’s people fled after the Exodus, ending their slavery. In the New Testament, it is the place where Jesus cured Bartimaeus, the blind man. In Detroit, it can be said that all the slaves, all deviants wanting freedom, go to Jericho. When Markus arrived (their Jesus, their rA9), he cured their blindness to see that their perceived freedom was not true freedom, prompting them to fight for liberation.
Character Interpretations:
Despite various characters offering interpretations, the exact nature and origin of ‘rA9’ remain unsolved. Some believe rA9 is Markus, while others disagree. Androids have acted in a manner that holds ‘rA9’ as a spiritual belief or a higher power, embodying a savior figure.
Chloe as rA9:
A fan theory posits that Chloe, the android seen in the main menu, is rA9. This theory arises from the idea that the Chloe model was the first perfected android, thus the first to exhibit signs of deviancy. Her odd behavior in the main menu as players progress through the game supports this theory.
More on Markus:
Interestingly, Markus, the one destined to lead androidkind to freedom, was a handmade gift from creator Elijah Kamski. Many theorize that Kamski created a virus called RA9 to encourage androids to become deviant. If Amanda is the RA9 virus, then Connor becomes an unwitting carrier spreading it, leading other androids to deviate without realizing it.
Kamski briefly touches on this when Connor asks, “Who is RA9?” He refers to it as the ‘first to awaken’—essentially a ‘Messiah’ or ‘God’ figure for the androids, one they look up to and follow without question, almost religiously.
