Initially it is only semi-intelligent and while it is capable of challenging human decisions that would interfere with its functionality it is not exactly self-aware. SHODAN (Sentient Hyper-Optimized Data Access Network) is the artificial intelligence of Citadel Station. After several confrontations the hacker manages to kill Diego. When the hacker wakes from his healing coma and starts to fight back against SHODAN, Diego goes after him. In fear for his life he offers it his assistance, betrays his fellow crewmembers and eventually gets turned into a cyborg by SHODAN. When it becomes obvious that SHODAN is out of control it is already too late for Diego to stop it. In the following weeks there are several hints that something about the SHODAN system might be off but nobody can pinpoint the source. Drunk with power he even uses the station's security systems to kill a TriOptimum security team that had come to investigate him. After having been given level one access to SHODAN, Diego deletes every evidence pointing towards him. When the hacker gets caught by Trioptimum Security, Diego sees his chance to get someone unaffiliated with the company to help him cover his tracks. The Vice President of Citadel Station has taken part in several illegal experiments. After that he is brought to Citadel's medical bay to spend six months in a healing coma. Diego stands by his word and the hacker is implanted with a state-of-the-art interface.

The hacker agrees and - according to Diego's orders - removes SHODAN's ethical constraints as well as gives Diego level one access to SHODAN.

He is supposed to hack SHODAN, the artificial intelligence which controls Citadel Station. He is then taken to Citadel Station where the station's Vice President Edward Diego makes an offer: He is willing to drop all charges against the hacker and on top of that get him a military-grade neural interface if he performs a hacking job for him. However, the hacker's intrusion into TriOptimum's systems does not go unnoticed and while he is still sitting in front of his computer his door gets kicked in and he is captured by heavily armed TriOptimum corporate security. One day he manages to hack into the corporate network of the TriOptimum megacorporation and accesses files concerning the corporate space station Citadel.

He lives in the Saturn colony New Atlanta. This unnamed hacker is the player character in System Shock 1.

System shock 2 shodan quote