working as a go-between for british intelligence and the cia, we first meet neil in the role of handler for the protagonist. he is a charming, mysterious character with a major in physics and highly trained in field experience. working undercover on the protagonist's behalf and spending his moments behind-the-scenes overseeing the science portion of the plot, the protagonist soon believes he enlists him in something far greater than himself. the truth of the matter is, neil in the present has always had the upper hand. already a member of the group called tenet, neil has traveled back in time to prevent a catastrophic event from unfolding in the future. aiding the protagonist in what will eventually become the true insurrection of tenet, neil does all that he can to ensure there is a future to look forward to.