Fatima (FSS)

In the manga The Five Star Stories, Fatimas are humanoid computers which are genetically designed to control Mortar Headds. They are distinguished from ordinary humans by their exceptional beauty, seemingly-frail bodies and the crystals on their foreheads. Fatimas mentally merge with the computer systems of Mortar Headds to control weapons, communications and other vital processes, and are designed to have computational skills rivaling any supercomputer as a result.

History of Fatimas

1986 Settings

When Five Star Stories first debuted, the history of Fatimas differed radically from the current version of events. In the old settings, Fatimas were known since antiquity, and were invented out of scientific curiosity. After the excitement of creating an artificial lifeform wore off, humanity abused Fatimas as mass-produced sex toys and soldiers, regarding them as nothing more than human machines.

This state of affairs changed in 2020, when tests showed that Fatimas showed promise as potential solutions to the control problems plaguing the humanoid Grandd Headds mechas that were the mainstay military unit of the time. Fatimas were then modified into the current form depicted in the manga to fulfill this role. ["The Five Star Stories" manga; Part I,volume 2, page 70-71]

Current Settings

The current history of Fatimas differs somewhat form the 1986 version: The early history of Fatimas became that of the androids, with Fatimas being invented for the sole purpose of piloting Mortar Headds. In the updated timeline, the term "Fatima" was first proposed in JC 2026 (the timeline of the FSS universe) by Uranium Ballanche as the name of his theoretical "organic computer system". In JC 2310, the first 4 Fatimas were created by Uranium's descendant, Lithium Ballanche, from the blood of Super Empire Knight Nekkadorah Swans. These 4 Fatimas became the genetic template for all future Fatimas. ["The Five Star Stories" timeline]

Fatima Physiology

Fatimas are thinner than humans with longer limbs and necks. Their chest cavities are smaller resulting in protruding joints. Although they appear to be frail they are markedly stronger and more resilient than normal humans. They are able to move as fast as most headdliners and can be deadly in personal combat. Most fatimas seen in the Five Star Stories are women but male fatimas are also produced as are child types that never reach physical maturity. Fatimas are not capable of producing children. They also perspire less than humans and require less food.

Fatimas go through eight stages of development before they are ready to enter military service. A ranking system has been devised to rate fatima quality. Fatimas begin life in a liquid vat and usually remain there after the stage of development where humans are born. Training is conducted by computers while in the vat to ensure they are well-versed in engineering, physics and biology. After emerging, fatimas receive further training and have a memory crystal surgically implanted in their head. This crystal is used for merging with mortar headd computer systems. They then remain in their creator's house for 2 to 3 months before choosing a master (this is not the case with factory produced fatimas).

There are also non-humanoid Fatimas, which are known as Etrimls. They are permanently encased in the Mortar Headd in amniotic fluid, and can be thought of as the natural evolution of the Fatima-MH symbiotic relationship. Etrimls are essentially Fatimas without a body, consisting only of a brain and nervous system. Therefore, they are completely helpless without an MH to serve as their "body" and a Headdliner to sustain them.

Fatima Meights

Those with the skills required to create fatimas are called fatima meights. They rank from one to five based on skill with five being the highest. Talented fatima meights are eagerly sought after by national leaders in order to give their own headdliners the opportunity to partner with the best fatimas. Most fatimas are produced in factories or workshops supervised by fatimas meights. They are expensive to produce and roughly half of them have to be destroyed due to defects that show after manufacture or during training. Those created by skilled meights are called masterpiece fatimas. These are created one at a time in a process that more closely resembles an artisan's workshop than a factory. Skilled meights are also artists who express their talents through the appearance and capabilities of the masterpiece fatimas they create. Four fatima meights who have been recorded in the pages of history for their superior skill are Drs. Chrome Ballanche, Morard Carbyte, Prisen Corks and Steel Koop.

Restrictions on Fatimas

As a battle accessory, Fatimas are paired up with headdliners whom they have chosen to maximize their battle effectiveness. They call their partner "master" and serve with devotion until their master's death. It is said the best partnerships result when the headdliner and fatima are of opposite sexes. Although some powerful headdliners have more than one fatima, fatimas serve only one master. Upon the master's death, fatimas seek out a new partner. Fatimas pledge loyalty to their master and not to a nation or leader. A fatima's new master can be of any allegiance.

By galaxy law, fatimas must be subjected to strict mind control during their development. This mind control subdues their emotions and enforces several conditions:

* Only a headdliner may be chosen as master
* They may not harm humans unless ordered to by their master
* They obey only the orders of their master
* They must respect humans as better than themselves
* A new master must be found after the current one dies
* They may not attempt to pass themselves off as humans

Galactic law places further limitations on fatimas. They must wear colored contact lenses to obscure their eyes when in public. They may not reveal their flesh (some are concerned they will bewitch men with their beauty). Fatimas have no legal rights and cannot testify in court or enter public offices. When appearing in public they must wear capes that completely cover their bodies and mark them as fatimas. When fatimas are not accompanied by their masters it is legal to kidnap or kill them. Common citizens' reactions to fatimas usually range from distrust to outright disgust. When headdliners travel they keep their fatimas in their mortar headd dorreys and other places where they can remain out of sight.

Fatima Statistics

Height: 155-170cm

Period of Maturation: 8-15 years

Production Cost: Around US$ 46 million but a black market exists as do private transactions

Life Span: Unknown. The only known fatima died of old age is Intercity, who died in JC 2997 at age of 687. Since she is one of the first four fatimas, the life span of later fatima are expacted to be longer, but no one knows how long at this point.

Necessary Caloric Intake: Minimum 200 kcal. per day in battle situations

MH Control/Data Processing Capabilities: Equivalent to a 128 bit computer, however memory is only a little better than Homo sapiens

Physical Strength: 200kg single arm clean and jerk, 500kg deadlift

IQ: 200 or more

Reaction Speed: 85% of the average headdliner's speed

Blood Type: Similar to Homo sapiens (MN, RH, ABO). The best meights develop superior types. The double epsilon model's (Lachesis) blood type is by far the finest to date

References