Holden
He started off bed-ridden, but Roy Batty led him to startling revelations.
Dave Holden is a blade runner who appears in *Blade Runner 2: The Edge of Human* (1995) by K. W. Jeter. He is first encountered bed-ridden after being attacked by the replicant Leon. Later, Roy Batty rescues Holden and leads him to startling revelations. Holden's investigations eventually lead him to uncover the truth: Rachael has been killed by Tyrell agents, and the woman who escaped with Deckard is actually Sarah Tyrell.
- First Appears
- Blade Runner 2: The Edge of Human (1995)
Lore & Background
Holden's story begins after his attack by the replicant Leon, which left him bed-ridden. He is rescued by Roy Batty, the human template for combat replicants, who suffers from a brain disorder that prevents him from experiencing fear. Batty leads Holden to startling revelations about the nature of blade runners and replicants. Later, when Deckard, Batty, and Holden clash, Batty's super-human fighting prowess convinces Holden that Batty is the sixth replicant, leading Holden to shoot him. After recovering from his injuries, Holden uncovers the truth: Rachael has been killed by Tyrell agents, and the 'Rachael' who escaped with Deckard was actually Sarah Tyrell.
In Their Own Story
Holden lay in his bed, the memory of Leon's attack still fresh. Then Roy Batty came, a man of considerable instability, suffering from a brain disorder that prevented him from experiencing fear. Batty rescued Holden and led him through a series of startling revelations. When they finally clashed with Deckard, Batty's super-human fighting prowess made Holden believe he had been duped all along. 'Batty is the sixth replicant,' Holden concluded, and he shot him. Later, recovering from his injuries, Holden dug deeper. He uncovered the truth: Rachael had been killed by Tyrell agents. The 'Rachael' who escaped with Deckard was actually Sarah Tyrell, completing her revenge by both destroying Tyrell and taking back Rachael's place.
Reader's Guide
Dave Holden is a blade runner who starts off bed-ridden after his attack by the replicant Leon. He is rescued by Roy Batty, who leads him to startling revelations. During the final clash, Batty's super-human fighting prowess convinces Holden that Batty is the sixth replicant, leading Holden to shoot him. After recovering, Holden uncovers the truth: Rachael has been killed by Tyrell agents, and the 'Rachael' who escaped with Deckard was actually Sarah Tyrell.
Did You Know?
- Holden starts off bed-ridden after being attacked by the replicant Leon.
- Roy Batty rescues Holden and leads him to startling revelations.
- Holden shoots Batty, believing him to be the sixth replicant due to his super-human fighting prowess.
- After recovering, Holden uncovers that Rachael was killed by Tyrell agents and replaced by Sarah Tyrell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Holden?
Holden is a veteran investigator for the Los Angeles Police Department's Blade Runner unit, serving as Rick Deckard's senior colleague when he is called back to active duty.
What is Holden's primary role and specialization?
As a seasoned officer, Holden specializes in administering the Voight-Kampff empathy test to identify replicants, demonstrating the professional expertise required to distinguish humans from synthetic beings.
What happens to Holden during his mission?
Holden suffers a brutal attack while investigating a replicant hideout, where he is critically wounded by a rogue Nexus-6 unit before Deckard arrives to secure the scene.
Why is Holden significant to the plot?
Holden serves as a grim warning to Rick Deckard, illustrating that even the most experienced officers can be overwhelmed by replicants, thereby raising the stakes for Deckard's own assignment.
What is Holden's status after his injury?
Following his severe injuries, Holden is forced to retire from active field duty, effectively ending his career as a frontline hunter of rogue replicants.
More in Characters
Elsewhere in the Blade Runner universe
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