Shinatama: Difference between revisions

A robotic assistant specifically designed to interface with [[Konoko]], the pink-haired Shinatama is one of the most tragic characters of [[Oni]].

The word "shinatama" refers to [[wp:Karakuri puppet|a type of puppet]] from Edo-era Japan that performed tricks, for example making a ball disappear. The word is intended to convey juggling, sleight-of-hand, or concealment. As Shinatama is a "doll" that must "juggle" a large amount of data while interfaced with [[Damocles]] and Konoko, the name seems appropriate in-universe. Considering the way that the story plays out, it could be just as fitting out-of-universe to see her name as representing concealment….

Initially, Shinatama acted as the informant to Konoko via their neural link. At this time, her personality was similar to a bright and happy child, and she considered herself a sister to the up-and-coming [[TCTF]] agent. She was also assigned the task of monitoring Konoko's [[Daodan Chrysalis]]. It was later discovered that she falsified these reports in order to protect Konoko.

Shinatama also alluded to the Chrysalis indirectly by informing Konoko that [[hyposprays]] might affect her differently then other people. This, along with her warning the young agent about [[Comguy]]s and the [[Deadly Brain]] clearly indicated their relationship was more then military professionalism. Her youthful personality was also demonstrated by her panicking when the Deadly Brain flooded the network with self-portraits.

==The [[Syndicate]] assault==

Soon after the incident with the Deadly Brain, [[Muro]], [[Barabas]] and a team of [[Strikers]] and [[Bomber]]s raided [[Vago Biotech]] for "gene surgery equipment." Shinatama continued her role as advisor to Konoko, but of more particular interest was the fact that the SLD process was completely explained in the [[data console]]s. Muro and his crew escaped with the equipment, Konoko hot on their trail.

At the chase took Konoko to the airport, Shinatama reported, horrified, that [[Muro]] and his troops were killing off civilians at an alarming rate. Konoko managed to follow Muro and plant a homing device on his escape plane. Muro, however, was informed that she was neural-linked to an SLD, prompting him to conduct an immediate assault on the TCTF headquarters...

A massive group of Strikers, Bombers, and [[Furies]] led by Barabas assaulted the TCTF headquarters with astonishing speed and precision. Not only did they turn off the main defenses, they also blew a few critical rampways to the ground. Barabas himself managed to reach Shinatama, ripping her out of her alcove in the main computer. Konoko rushed to save her, but only just saw her getting handed off to Muro.

The SLD was taken to a nearby [[ACC]] by Muro, who plugged her into the generator, running thousands of volts through her body. He amusedly commented that her pain threshold was nonexistent. Having obtained the information from her, Muro left her in a highly damaged state. Konoko, who had come to rescue what she considered her only friend, was unable to move her without furthering the damage.

Shinatama attempted to inform her about the Chrysalis and its impact, but only managed to pass on Konoko's real name, Mai Hasegawa, and the fact that there was something inside of her, before she received a self-destruct signal from [[Griffin]]. She attempted to slow it down, allowing Konoko a chance to escape, but the explosion was unavoidable. She was presumed dead. But Griffin had other plans.

Griffin had known from the beginning there was a high possibility the Konoko would spiral out of control, and had planned accordingly. He had designed the [[Omega Bunker]] complete with a Deadly Brain frame, and retrieved the shambled remains of Shinatama from the explosion site. He wired her up into the frame, giving her access to all the defenses and using her familiarity with Konoko as a critical part in his defense program.

When Konoko confronted Griffin, he retreated into the bunker, forcing her not only to combat TCTF agents, but her friend as well. Shinatama, aware that she was helping to kill the person she viewed as a sister, begged for death all the while. Eventually, Konoko managed to shut down all the defense mechanisms, and Shinatama broke free of the frame, walking toward Griffin with all the speed her skeletal body could muster.

 

==[[Shinatama Bot]]==

A custom character concept developed by [[User:Samer|Samer]]. The idea is Shinatama got rebuilt / resurrected into a more combat-able body ... Perhaps as a way for Griffin to redeem himself after Konoko spared his life in the bunker.

It is interesting to note that the only being [[Konoko]] ever cared for, plotwise (with the near-exception of Kerr), is : a) not really human, technically; b) basically a part of Mai herself.

SLDs get basically 3D-printed from within a material soup. They are meant to [[Quotes/Manual#Tech_Note_2|'''simulate''' many biological functions]] while not using classical biological materials (if at all).

Besides that SLDs feature few mechanical-like parts (skeleton) and electronic parts. This is emphasised by the term "doll" in SLD. This is to make them stronger than humans and let them easily interact with computer systems.