Shu Imashinigi

Shu Imashinigi
Personal
Also known as
  • "Little Luthien" Killer[1]
  • "Kappa"[1]
BornCa. 3080[2]
Died3133[3]
AffiliationRepublic of the Sphere[2]
Career
ProfessionFisherman[2]
Family
ChildrenLuka Imashinigi[2]

Shu Imashinigi was a Towne-based fisherman turned serial killer, accomplice to the 3133 "Little Luthien" murders.

History[edit]

Shu was a resident of the "Little Luthien" district of Kordova, Towne, and a fisherman. His wife, who had given birth to his daughter Luka Imashinigi (the namesake of his Enfield Runabout E-31 fishing boat, Luka) ca. 3114, died of lung cancer in 3128. Some locals saw him as a kind, polite, harmless old man, albeit one who became reclusive and distant after tragedy: Luka allegedly died at sea in December 3132, devoured by a Seraphim Swimmer.[2]

The truth behind his shift was darker. Assassin, serial killer and rapist Jonathan Yurei Kamimori, visiting Towne with the task of murdering Republican Bureau of Citizens' Affairs official Hikaru Roneskovich,[4] decided to capture the attention of the Draconis Combine Internal Security Force by creating a new serial killer persona. Early in the process, he discovered Shu Imashinigi. Shu was sexually abusing his daughter Luka at the time; Jonathan killed her and took Shu as an accomplice of sorts.[3][5]

On 23 February 3133, their spree publicly began: a series of killings of women in their 20s-30s in Little Luthien.[6] In each case, the victim was tortured, mutilated with body parts cut away while still alive, paralyzed, strangled, and dumped in the sea off the Kordava harbor; rape is also implied. Recordings were made of each killing. The exact level of Shu's involvement and willingness is unclear (though Jonathan claimed he was quite eager), but past the first victim, he helped in the mutilation, his knifework far less clean and skilled than that of Jonathan.[3][5][6]

Alicia Lang was the first found. She was followed within days by Takira Ikashi, Carmen Luego, Silva Agano, and 7 March's Shari Nakohama.[6][7] By then, the police had assigned the case a name: the "Little Luthien" Killer.[6] Jonathan found the time to kill his actual target in between,[8] and in the meantime, he left messages teasing the Towne Bureau of Investigations.[3][9] Reiko Urikashi was found dead by 17 March.[7][9]

A month and a half passed before Jonathan and Shu's next murder, with Jonathan, sometime along the way, sending the police a message giving a new name he preferred: the Kappa.[3][10] On 3 May 3133, Nariko Chantrea was found dead in the Kordava harbor. The same day, investigation head Frances Becca announced that Knight-Errant Kristoff Erbe had been assigned to assist in the investigation.[7][11] The day Kristoff arrived, 17 May, another victim, Mari Ingersoll, was taken, and the killers demanded he leave.[7][12]

From Jonathan's perspective, it was time to leave. He had done his job and had his fun. He just had to give the police someone. Shu was sent out to work on his own; his attempt to kidnap and kill Kaori Atariya on 27 May ended in the victim escaping, leading to a final police hunt for Shu. A Kordava police harbor patrol boat spotted Shu's boat, leading to a chase - first by boat, then on land. In a final shootout, Shu killed officer William Mousa and injured Kristoff Erbe before the Knight brought him down.[1][2][3] Police found several body parts in his on-board freezers; one held the corpse of his daughter Luka carved up by Jonathan, carved to show that Shu had raped his own daughter.[1][5]

Shu survived the shootout, hospitalized. He did not last long. As soon as word came that he might recover, Jonathan slipped in and dosed him with succinylcholine, killing him.[3] Towne authorities did not let the public know that the murders were done by a team, allowing them to largely be pinned on Shu alone, but the planetary legate quietly authorized detective Harry Loveland to continue investigating off-planet.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ a b c d Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN, pp. 171-172: "CAPTURED! 'Little Luthien' Killer Nabbed in Kordava Shootout!"
  2. ↑ a b c d e f Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN, pp. 173-174: "Erbe Declares Manhunt after Ninth 'Kappa' Victim Escapes Killer"
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g Daughter of the Dragon, ch. 2
  4. ↑ Daughter of the Dragon, ch. 2 states that Kamimori was sent to assassinate a government official; Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN, p. 125 identifies Roneskovich and separates his killing from the rest; Blood Avatar, ch. 8 reiterates the distinction
  5. ↑ a b c d Dragon Rising, ch. 14
  6. ↑ a b c d Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN, p. 122: "'Little Luthien' Killer Claims Fifth Victim"
  7. ↑ a b c d Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN, p. 327: "Memorial to 'Little Luthien' Victims Dedicated"
  8. ↑ Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN, p. 125: "BCA Administrator Slain, 'Little Luthien' Connection Suspected"
  9. ↑ a b Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN, p. 127: "'Little Luthien' Killer Strikes Again, Leaves Message for Authorities"
  10. ↑ Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN, p. 159: "'Little Luthien' Killer: 'I Am the Kappa'
  11. ↑ Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN, p. 153: "'Little Luthien' Killer Returns, Claims Seventh Victim
  12. ↑ Dark Age: 3132-3134 INN, p. 165: "Woman Disappears as 'Kappa' Demands Knight Return Home, Threatens More Killings"

Bibliography[edit]

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