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Daodan: Difference between revisions
wrote proper lede for article; moved opening quotes down to relevant sections; wrote new section "Symbiotes"; expanded on "Mukade" and wrote "Barabas" and "Mutant Muro" sections
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|colspan=2 align=center|''Chinese origin of the term | |colspan=2 align=center|''Chinese origin of the term Daodan | ||
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The Daodan Chrysalis is an entity which, being implanted in a human host, forms a symbiosis with it. Gradually the host's organs are replaced by improved copies grown by the Chrysalis. Developed by [[Professor Hasegawa]], the Daodan Chrysalis has been implanted in multiple characters in [[Oni]]. | |||
'''"Warning: target neutralization failed. Daodan symbiote organism present. Engaging Omega security mode."''' | ==Facts== | ||
===Symbiotes=== | |||
{{Quotebox|align=center|width=400px|quote='''"Warning: target neutralization failed. Daodan symbiote organism present. Engaging Omega security mode."'''|source=Shinatama, [[Chapter 13]]}} | |||
The word "symbiote" is not found in all dictionaries, but it is an alternate spelling of the more common "symbiont". The root of the word is Greek for "living together" and refers to the two entities together as a singular noun. The human side of the Daodan symbiote in Oni is referred to as the host. | |||
Over the course of the story, it is revealed that the main character [[Konoko]] is a "prime symbiote"; [[Muro]] is also a prime symbiote, as revealed by [[Quotes/Speech#Is_that_a_yes.3F|this exchange]] with a [[Syndicate]] scientist. The Chrysalis was implanted in Konoko by [[Kerr|Dr. Kerr]] while working under the [[TCTF]] and in Muro by Hasegawa and/or the Syndicate. | |||
The existence of additional symbiotes is a matter of speculation, but there are strong hints that [[Mukade]] and [[Barabas]] are "secondary symbiotes" which are somehow inferior to the primes. See each of their sections below for elaboration. | |||
===Chrysalis=== | ===Chrysalis=== | ||
{{Quotebox|align=center|width=400px|quote='''"The Chrysalis is the hyper-evolved clone of its host body. As the host experiences stress or harm it grows to reinforce or replace the body's damaged systems."'''|source=Dr. Kerr, [[Chapter 12]]}} | |||
The Chrysalis is first named by [[Shinatama]] during [[Quotes/Speech#Shinatama.27s_death|her revealing monologue]] in [[Chapter 8]]: "They used me to monitor the growth of the Chrysalis inside you". It was [[Quotes/Speech#Scanner_room|later elaborated on]] by Kerr [[Quotes/Consoles#Chrysalis_Removal|and his colleagues]] in Chapter 12, as seen in the leading quote in this article. The Chrysalis' growth process takes on dramatic proportions in a [[Quotes/Consoles#Shinatama.2FKonoko_Relationship|later description]]: "Konoko is closer to full transition than we ever suspected. Rough projections estimate that the Chrysalis will have infiltrated more than 80% of her body and will have replaced somewhere between 40 to 56% of her original organs." | The Chrysalis is first named by [[Shinatama]] during [[Quotes/Speech#Shinatama.27s_death|her revealing monologue]] in [[Chapter 8]]: "They used me to monitor the growth of the Chrysalis inside you". It was [[Quotes/Speech#Scanner_room|later elaborated on]] by Kerr [[Quotes/Consoles#Chrysalis_Removal|and his colleagues]] in Chapter 12, as seen in the leading quote in this article. The Chrysalis' growth process takes on dramatic proportions in a [[Quotes/Consoles#Shinatama.2FKonoko_Relationship|later description]]: "Konoko is closer to full transition than we ever suspected. Rough projections estimate that the Chrysalis will have infiltrated more than 80% of her body and will have replaced somewhere between 40 to 56% of her original organs." | ||
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===Progress=== | ===Progress=== | ||
The neural link between Konoko and Shinatama allowed the TCTF to gather precise biometric data on the gradual integration of Konoko's Chrysalis with her body. Unfortunately for the TCTF, the interpretation and reporting of this information was dependent on Shinatama, who it was believed would always be truthful. It turns out at the end of the game that Shinatama had been [[Quotes/Consoles#Shinatama.2FKonoko_Relationship|falsifying her reports]] in order to protect Konoko. | The neural link between Konoko and Shinatama allowed the TCTF to gather precise biometric data on the gradual integration of Konoko's Chrysalis with her body. Unfortunately for the TCTF, the interpretation and reporting of this information was dependent on Shinatama, who it was believed would always be truthful. It turns out at the end of the game that Shinatama had been [[Quotes/Consoles#Shinatama.2FKonoko_Relationship|falsifying her reports]] in order to protect Konoko. | ||
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===True nature=== | ===True nature=== | ||
Kerr says that the physical transformation cannot change the symbiote's personality, but rather vice versa. He claims that | Kerr says that the physical transformation cannot change the symbiote's personality, but rather vice versa. He claims that Konoko's final form will be an expression of the person's "true nature". | ||
===Barabas=== | |||
[[Image:TXMPBOSS1talking.png|right]] | |||
Judging from his appearance, it's clear that Muro's top enforcer has been altered in some way. His discolored skin, not to mention the horn on his head, show that he has been mutated by something. It's likely the Chrysalis, though we don't know for sure. His bulky suit seems as much for life support as for armor. Could it be that the symbiosis has not completely "taken"? Perhaps he has a second-generation Chrysalis derived from Muro's, and thus it's not as compatible with him, or perhaps it's a new Chrysalis but is the product of an inferior process – Hasegawa seems to be absent, so perhaps the Syndicate is trying to recreate his work? | |||
It's interesting to note that Barabas has two "superpowers": Earthquaker and his regeneration ("Stronger and stronger!"). Read on to see how this is the case with Mukade and Mutant Muro as well. | |||
===Mukade=== | ===Mukade=== | ||
The master ninja doesn't name the Daodan explicitly during his encounter with Mai, but [[Quotes/Speech#Faceoff|his | [[Image:TXMPBOSS2face.png|right]] | ||
The master ninja doesn't name the Daodan explicitly during his encounter with Mai, but [[Quotes/Speech#Faceoff|his monologue]] seems to be alluding to the transformation process: | |||
"Does your blood burn when you kill? Mine does. We writhe inside as we are torn apart to make way for what we will become. Surrender to it. Let the bliss of oblivion free you of all your doubts and fears..." | |||
Mukade also has two superpowers: teleportation and the Devil Star, his homing energy attack. He can also turn invisible, but this involves pressing a button on his suit and thus seems to be a technological ability rather than a superhuman one. | |||
Unlike Barabas, we don't see any of Mukade's skin so we don't know if he suffers from the same discoloration, let alone whether he has any horns…. | |||
===Mutant Muro=== | |||
[[Image:TXMPMUTANTMUROface.png|right]] | |||
The mutated Muro in his Imago form possesses access to almost unlimited energy which he can use to attack and shield himself from harm. This explains why the TCTF fears Konoko's transformation so much. Muro's shield would make him invulnerable if it weren't for the fact that he is newly transformed and sometimes loses the shield when expending energy on attacks. | |||
Mutant Muro has two superpowers: Thunderbolt (his attractive lightning which picks up targets and brings them to him) and his defensive attack which strikes the enemy with repelling lightning. | |||
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The Daodan is essentially different in that it is 100% biological : it's even different from 3rd-party grafts and implants, because the tissue is originally that of the host himself. That, and the fact that both tissues ''do'' end up very different, makes the Daodan readily identifiable as an extreme form of [[wp:Cancer|cancer]]. Basically, the Chrysalises implanted to Muro and Mai were comparable to ''tumors'' (aggregates of cancer cells), and the different growth processes occurring then are equivalent to direct invasion and metastasis. | The Daodan is essentially different in that it is 100% biological : it's even different from 3rd-party grafts and implants, because the tissue is originally that of the host himself. That, and the fact that both tissues ''do'' end up very different, makes the Daodan readily identifiable as an extreme form of [[wp:Cancer|cancer]]. Basically, the Chrysalises implanted to Muro and Mai were comparable to ''tumors'' (aggregates of cancer cells), and the different growth processes occurring then are equivalent to direct invasion and metastasis. | ||
Cancer disrupts the fundamental equilibrium between cell division and cell death, and thus affects the organism's integrity. The Daodan does pretty much the same (note the connection of the aforementioned equilibrium to the "stability" of a host/ | Cancer disrupts the fundamental equilibrium between cell division and cell death, and thus affects the organism's integrity. The Daodan does pretty much the same (note the connection of the aforementioned equilibrium to the "stability" of a host/Daodan "symbiote"). However, the initial mutation isn't random, and the process is considerably different from a proliferation of tumors, and does not result in death the way regular cancer does. | ||
The Daodan is ''smart'' about its progression through the organism. Its core "hyperevolutionary" design is an autoadaptive upgrade of the host, which results in assimilating, "reinforcing and enhancing" existing structures, rather than going for any vital space it can get. A sort of dynamic integrity is thus maintained (if things go well, that is), and then it results in increased resilience and preservation of the host, rather than its death. | The Daodan is ''smart'' about its progression through the organism. Its core "hyperevolutionary" design is an autoadaptive upgrade of the host, which results in assimilating, "reinforcing and enhancing" existing structures, rather than going for any vital space it can get. A sort of dynamic integrity is thus maintained (if things go well, that is), and then it results in increased resilience and preservation of the host, rather than its death. | ||
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===Efficiency and loss of control=== | ===Efficiency and loss of control=== | ||
The key idea of the Daodan design is that in order to achieve outstanding performance (efficiency, power), you have to ''give up control''. | The key idea of the Daodan design is that in order to achieve outstanding performance (efficiency, power), you have to ''give up control''. | ||
That's what Kerr and his colleagues keep talking about, that's what Muro and Barabas and Mai illustrated, each in their own way : Muro escaping the [[Syndicate]]'s control in pretty much the same way as Mai escaped Griffin's, Barabas' | That's what Kerr and his colleagues keep talking about, that's what Muro and Barabas and Mai illustrated, each in their own way : Muro escaping the [[Syndicate]]'s control in pretty much the same way as Mai escaped Griffin's, Barabas' more complicated case being a forced (and failed) conciliation of power and control. | ||
Point is: with the Daodan, one should always expect the unexpected. The fact that the ''theory itself'' denies any kind of accurate control and prediction is what makes the Daodan so different from any other prototype technology. Whatever widget comes up in sci-fi, even if it never served before, one always knows what it's ''supposed'' to do. | Point is: with the Daodan, one should always expect the unexpected. The fact that the ''theory itself'' denies any kind of accurate control and prediction is what makes the Daodan so different from any other prototype technology. Whatever widget comes up in sci-fi, even if it never served before, one always knows what it's ''supposed'' to do. | ||