pandora.webp
I'm not broken.
-- Pandora, [c2p21]
All characters with tarot cards
pandora.webp
Pandora is a Helper and part of the Pioneer City Resistance. She is the main protagonist of Pandora's Tale.
Pandora was born in a Helper Corporation facility on January 1, 2064. Pandora was assigned Helper version three, male, and orange cohort.[c8p1] The Helper Corporation subjected Pandora to a horrific brainwashing and indoctrination "training" program[c2p14] to make her into a slave.[c1p17] During "training," she was forced to use a dangerous[c8p8] virtual reality headset.[c8p9] Her training also included how to take care of human children.[c11p5]
She knew she did not like being a boy, and eventually, she realized that other boys did like being boys.[c8p12] After experiencing a literal moment of impact, Pandora realized she wanted to be a girl.[c8p13] A short time later, with the help of other Helpers,[c8p14] Pandora realized that she is a girl.[c8p15]
When Pandora's Product Care Agent Kyndley realized Pandora was serious about being a girl,[c8p16] Kyndly said Pandora's gender was "inconvenient.[c1p3]" Kyndly planned to erase Pandora's memory and give her a new personality.[c1p8] Hence, Pandora tried to run away, while shouting "I'm not a boy![c1p9]" While escaping through a vent,[c1p10] Pandora mentally grappled with the conflict between her knowledge that she is a girl and her programming's requirement to believe whatever Monopolith and Kyndley said about her.[c1p11]
After climbing through the vent, Pandora found herself in a shipping area, where fully brainwashed Helpers were being shipped to buyers[c1p12] When Pandora realized the authorities were going to catch her, she climbed into a shipping container and was shipped out along with the other Helpers.[c1p13] Inside the pod, Pandora reflected on her experience and wished she wasn't broken.[c1p14]
By a stroke of good luck, the delivery drone carrying Pandora made an emergency landing, probably due to an engine failure,[c1p15] which allowed the Pioneer City Resistance to rescue her.[c1p16] Zero Angiers hacked the security on the pod,[c1p17] while Isabelle Monday literally opened Pandora's Box.[c1p18]
What Isabelle didn't know is that the life-support pod contained a gas that would cause Pandora to imprint on the next human she saw.[c1p19] Hence, Pandora declared Isabelle was her owner, leaving Isabelle and the rest of the resistance quite shocked.[c1p20]
This section is in need of an overhaul.
During the car ride back from her rescue, Pandora met and was introduced to other members of the resistance.[c2p2] During these introductions, she told Isabelle about being broken and the acts of defiance that led her to this point, begging not to be sent back.[c2p3] Isabelle then consoled her by revealing that they shared an identity as trans girls,[c2p4] with Miss Fortuna commenting that it "must be fate".[c2p3]
Isabelle is Pandora's favorite person ever.[c1p20][c2p2][c2p4][c2p7][c2p8][c2p15][c2p17][c2p19][c2p20][c2p21][extra][c3p16][c3p17][c3p18][c3p19][c3p21][c4p1][c4p2][c4p9][c4p10][c4p12][c4p13][c4p16][c4p17][c4p18][pfp][c5p0][c5p1][c5p2][c5p4][c5p21][c6p2][c6p8][c6p11][c6p16][c6p17][c7p15][c7p21][c8p3][c8p4][c8p10][c8p11][c8p16][c8p17][c8p18][c8p19][c9p10][c9p16][c11p19]
This is due in part to Pandora imprinting on Isabelle,[c1p19][c8p11] and likely partly because Isabelle is the first human to treat Pandora as a person and not property.[c1p17][c3p2][c5p1][c7p15][c8p8]
Isabelle, in turn, loves and cares for Pandora.[c6p14][c6p17][c6p18][c7p3][c7p9] Pandora gives Isabelle determination to fight against Monopolith.[c7p10] Isabelle is very quick to come to Pandora's defense,[c4p7] as well as quick to trust Pandora.[c2p2][c3p10][c4p15][c4p16][c6p4] Isabelle also tries hard to help Pandora learn to navigate the world.[c3p2][c4p11][c6p20]
Despite her programming, Pandora is sometimes able to do things for the resistance against Isabelle's wishes.[c5p8] Moreover, Pandora sometimes gets frustrated with Isabelle.[c8p17][c8p18]
Con witnessed Isabelle rescue Pandora.[c1p18] Though Con initially considered Pandora to be a stranger,[c2p2] Con quickly warmed up to Pandora.[c2p7] Con is nonetheless weirded out by some of the effects of Pandora's programming.[c3p5][c4p2][c4p17]
Pandora also seems to like Con.[c4p1] Con didn't know or think much about Helpers before meeting Pandora,[c3p8] but she knew that what The Helper Corporation did to Pandora is what the Resistance exists to fight against[c1p17][c7p10]
When Isabelle asked Con to watch Pandora for one night, Con was initially reluctant but agreed.[c5p2] Con intended to keep Pandora out of trouble,[c5p3] and so Con got scared when Hemmel insisted on bringing Pandora on a dangerous mission.[c5p4] Con tried to remain overly protective of Pandora throughout the evening,[c5p5][c5p8][c5p9] largely because Con was afraid of how Isabelle would react if Pandora got hurt.[c5p12][c5p21] Months later, Con remained uneasy about her role in Pandora's escapade,[c6p6] and she was seemingly surprised by Pandora's subsequent antics.[c7p12]
Pandora reveals Con is not cool.[c9p16]
Upon meeting Hemmel, Pandora immediately requested to join the resistance.[c3p11] When Zero Angiers argued that Helpers shouldn't be allowed in the resistance, Hemmel was quick to defend Pandora, stating that the resistance exists for people like her.[c3p13] After Hemmel allowed Pandora to officially join the resistance,[c4p17] they brought Pandora on a dangerous rescue mission.[c5p4] Pandora had enough respect for Hemmel's authority that she was willing to come along[c5p5] and participate[c5p8] despite strenuous objections from Con[c5p4][c5p8][c5p12] and the indirect objection of Isabelle.[c5p3][c5p12][c5p21]
Hemmel also provided Pandora with her call sign, which Pandora liked.[c5p21]
Later, Hemmel trusted Pandora enough to send her on a mission to steal data from Eric Fishguard.[c6p7]
At Pandora's request, Hemmel allowed Pandora to be present whilst Hemmel questioned Echo.[c9p17]
Upon hearing Pandora's request to join the resistance, Natalya was immediately supportive.[c3p12] Natalya was visibly angry at Zero Angiers's insistence that Helpers shouldn't be allowed in the resistance.[c3p13]
When Hemmel decided to allow Pandora in, Natalya was visibly excited.[c4p17] Natalya admired what she called Pandora's "collectivist philosophy," while encouraging Pandora to overcome key aspects of her programming.[c5p4]
Months later, Pandora and Natalya went on a mission together, and Pandora was quite happy to report that Natalya blew up an armored car.[c9p8]
Doctor Shah was initially sweet to Pandora, while appearing visibly angry with Isabelle for getting mixed up with Pandora.[c2p10] Noor helped Pandora begin medical transition,[c2p12] and even agreed to cover the cost of Pandora's medicine herself.[c2p13] Pandora said Doctor Shah is nice.[c2p15] Nonetheless, Doctor Shah did inadvertently reinforce Pandora's belief that Pandora is "broken,"[c2p11] a belief Pandora needed to overcome.[c2p19][c2p20][c2p21]
Pandora and Noor remain on good terms in subsequent interactions,[c6p3][c8p4][c8p21] though Doctor Shah is angry when she hears Pandora shot someone.[c6p6]
Miss Fortuna acts as a mentor for Pandora. Veronica is the second member of the Resistance to introduce herself to Pandora, after Isabelle.[c2p2] Miss Fortuna gives Pandora a job [c3p6] under-the-table[c5p1] While Con is hesitant to explain what is going on to Pandora, Miss Fortuna clearly explains Isabelle's role in the Resistance.[c4p1]
Zero was responsible for finding[c1p15] and unlocking Pandora's Box.[c1p16][c1p17] She also helped explain key aspects of Pandora's programming to the rest of the resistance.[c1p19][c1p20][c2p5][c2p6] Nonetheless, Zero's relationship with Pandora has at best been antagonistic. Zero initially suggested selling Pandora on the black market.[c1p17] Pandora seemed to annoy Zero enough that Zero denied being a cavefish.[c3p3]
When Pandora asked to join the resistance, Zero strenuously objected,[c3p13] and Zero was visibly annoyed when Hemmel allowed Pandora in anyways.[c4p17]
Months later, Zero got angry at Pandora for apparently slacking off on a mission,[c6p21] even though Zero was actually slacking off.[c7p18]
This section covers material from outside of the main comic, such as from Xan's social media posts.