Aigis

Aigis (アイギス, Aegis in the Japanese version) in Persona 3 related publications in Japan, is an anti-shadow weapon developed by the Kirijo Group. Unlike other characters, Aigis bears the distinction of using an exclusive 'Tactic' command, Orgia Mode, which increases her overall attack capabilities, at the cost of being immobile after using it.

Appearances

 * Aegis: The First Mission: Protagonist
 * Persona 3: Playable Character
 * A Certain Day of Summer: Main Character
 * Persona 3: FES: Playable Character, Social Link, Protagonist (The Answer)
 * Persona 3 Portable: Playable Character, Social Link
 * Persona 3 (Manga)
 * Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena: Playable Character

Design
Aigis appears as a humanoid android with short, blond hair and dark blue eyes. As she is an android created to fight shadows, her body is mostly mechanical, although she retains a human-esque figure with a face (presumably to facilitate better interaction with SEES and other humans).

After she transfers to Gekkuoukan High, she wears the school's uniform. She is never seen without her red ribbon except during the beach excursion in Yakushima, a brief school field trip in Kyoto( in which she wears a bathrobe) and the post-New Years day when she wears a kimono at the nearby shrine.

During The Answer, her design changes: she is shown with a new metal headband and an armored army vest. She retains this design throughout The Answer.

After 3 years, during Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena, she returns, donning a new red tie in place of her red ribbon. She is now equipped with new advanced featues on her metal headband, legs, and three weapons are behind her back.

Personality
Her initial personality is simply to obey orders, although she is drawn to the Protagonist and begins breaking into his room at night to be with him. In November, she developed emotions, becoming compassionate and loyal to her friends, though she struggles to fully understand her new emotions.

Profile

 * Date of Manufacture: September 10th, 1999
 * Height: 162 cm (5'3")
 * Arcana / Social Link: Chariot/Aeon, Fool

Aegis: The First Mission
In this Japan-exclusive title, Aigis serves as the protagonist of Aegis: The First Mission. The game details her creation and the events that led to the sealing of Death and the incident that occurred in 1999.
 * Initial Persona: Palladion

Persona 3
Aigis makes her first appearance in Yakushima, where members of S.E.E.S are enjoying their vacation. She appears to be looking out towards the ocean, where the protagonist, Junpei, and Akihiko are attracted by her beauty. The trio formulates a plan to flirt with her, only to fail. During the protagonist's encounter with her, parts of her memories are restored and Aigis escapes. She is later revealed to be an Anti-Shadow weapon developed by the Kirijo Group, and also happens to be the final Anti-Shadow weapon still capable of functioning. Ikutsuki later assigned her to S.E.E.S as a member, and she enrolls in Gekkoukan High to act as the protagonist's bodyguard.
 * Initial Persona: Palladion
 * Ultimate Persona: Pallas Athena

Throughout the game, Aigis shows an instinctive interest in protecting the protagonist, an interest which even she cannot explain. As the story progresses, she begins to question her existence, human lives, and her role in life. When Ryoji Mochizuki transfers to Gekkoukan High, she becomes hostile to the transfer student, and warns the protagonist not to get near Ryoji.

After the the twelfth shadow's defeat, Aigis is reprogrammed by Ikutsuki to lure members of S.E.E.S to Tartarus. Ikutsuki reveals his plans for succeeding Mitsuru's grandfather's wish: to awaken the thirteenth arcana that was never meant to be, Death. Under Ikutsuki's programming, Aigis is forced the subdue members of S.E.E.S and is then ordered to kill them as a sacrifice to awaken Death. However, Aigis can't bear to kill the protagonist, and begins to fight back Ikutsuki's reprogramming. It is her strong desire to protect that saves the protagonist. However, Takeharu Kirijo is killed by Ikutsuki.

During her battle with Ryoji on the Moonlight Bridge, Aigis regains the memories trapped in her damaged circuits. The player learns that ten years before the game, her mission was to defeat or seal away Death so that the coming of Nyx would be averted. Since she was unable to defeat Death, she sealed the entity away in a young boy who was the sole survivor of a nearby car crash. That young boy was the protagonist. She is driven to protect him both to try and suppress Death and because she feels a great deal of guilt over her actions. Since Ryoji is an incarnation of Death, she senses that he is her natural enemy.

Aigis is damaged during her fight with Ryoji and must be repaired by the Kirijo Group. When she returns, she requests of the protagonist to kill Ryoji, as she believes that a robot who failed her motives is a failure itself. Aigis remarks that as a robot, she cannot feel, and thus cannot even shed a tear for the others. The party comforts her, saying she already shows more human-like qualities and emotions, and is slowly becoming more human. Taking her friends' words to heart, Aigis's resolution is strengthened, and she decides to stand against the power of Nyx with her friends in S.E.E.S. She is the only one who remembers Tartarus, the Dark Hour, and the Main Character's sacrifice during his borrowed month of life after the defeat of Nyx. She allows him to live like a normal student for the few precious weeks that he has. Then, on Graduation Day, she holds the Main Character as he drifts into his final sleep, and swears that she will live her life protecting him.

A Certain Day of Summer
Aegis is the main focus of the first story of A Certain Day of Summer. The first story centers around Aegis touring the town before she begins going to school at Gekkoukan High School. When she's dressed in her dorm mate's clothing, Yukari's clothing fit the best. She was going to describe all the differences between her body and Yukari's, but Yukari stops her.

Persona 3: FES
In the Persona 3: FES expansion, the player can access an epilogue to the main game called The Answer (Episode Aegis in the Japanese version). There, Aigis replaces the Main Character as playable protagonist, inheriting his power to summon multiple Personas, but unfortunately she can no longer use Orgia Mode. After the death of the protagonist, Aigis decides to stay in the lab instead of continuing her studies. It is also revealed that she kept the protagonist's Evoker after his death.
 * Initial Persona: Pallas Athena, which transfigures to Orpheus

After the events of the Journey, the members of SEES decides to regroup one last time. It is here SEES was assaulted by Metis, who introduces herself as a "sister" of Aigis. Seeing the members of SEES as a hindrance, Metis easily defeats them, and engages Aigis to a battle. After a heated battle, Aigis tries to summon Pallas Athena, but the Persona instead transfigures into Orpheus, the persona of the Protagonist. Overusing the Orgia Mode, Aigis eventually passes out, but succeeding in subduing Metis, rendering her incapable to continue fighting.

During her time of being unconscious, Aigis awoke in her subconscious, and was taken into the Velvet Room. In there, she learns about the Protagonist' unique ability. Igor informs Aigis that the transfiguration symbolizes a change in Aigis' psyche, and that her Journey is about to begin. While unconscious, Aigis' body was also being enhanced with more armors and rations by the members of SEES. Metis would later lead Aigis to the Abyss of Time, an underground labyrinth situated below the dorm. Mitsuru would eventually regroup SEES, with Aigis serving as the field leader, inheriting the position of the Protagonist, an incident which greatly irritates Yukari.

As the story progresses, it is revealed that Aigis slowly rekindles her urges and will of losing the side of humanity and the penalties a living being must face upon the protagonist' death. Her will and wishes to remove her side of humanity manifests as Metis, whom is known as her "sister" who doesn't want to be left alone. Upon venturing to the deepest area of the Abyss of Time, the members encounters the shadow manifests from S.E.E.S' negative feelings and will of seeing the protagonist one more time.

After defeating the shadow, Yukari expressed hostility upon Aigis out of jealously, as she inherited the protagonist's Wild Card ability, and having one of the keys to unlock the past. Aigis would later team up with Metis and Fuuka to regain the remaining keys, which can be only taken from members of S.E.E.S via being victorious in battling them. As the fight goes, Aigis slowly remembers her reasons and will of living, and decided not to change the past, but to bear the burden of the protagonist' death and continue living towards the future.

When Aigis collects all the keys and forge them into the "true key", she decides to explore the protagonist's true reason of dying, and was transported, along with members of SEES, to the final battle against Nyx. In there, they witness the protagonist's sealing of Nyx, and what he becomes. Upon Metis' explanation, the party realizes that the protagonist has not became a seal to prevent Nyx's coming, but a seal to prevent humanity's desire for destruction, personified as Erebus, from making contact with Nyx. Upon witnessing Erebus attempting the destroy the seal, and thus the protagonist himself, the members of S.E.E.S decides to defeat Erebus.

After the defeat of Erebus, Aigis uses the true key to return to the present time, but was transferred to the Velvet Room along with members of SEES. Igor explains that Aigis had reached the end of her journey, and found her answer of living. It is also here reveals Metis' true identity as the manifestation of Aigis' humanity. The sisters reconcile, and fuses into a single being, with Aigis feeling tired.

The next day, members of SEES was surprised to see that Aigis continued sleeping, fearing that she suffer the same fate as the protagonist, they took Aigis to her room, where they attempt to repair her. However, as Aigis is unconscious, she heard Metis' voice deep down, encouraging her, and awakes upon hearing Yukari's call. Aigis would later cancel her attempt of staying in the lab and decides to continue studying in Gekkoukan High, where Yukari suggests Aigis to be her roommate. Aigis is last seen in the rooftop of Gekkoukan High, where she looks forward for a brand new day.

Social Link
The Protagonist can also date Aigis in Persona 3: FES, and Persona 3 Portable. Aigis represents Aeon Arcana, an exclusive Social Link FES where the Protagonist can access it after December 30th, where Aigis returns from the Kirijo Laboratory for repairing after her battle with Death. Unlike other SEES female members, the Protagonist does not require any prerequisite in either Academics, Charm, or Courage to date Aigis. Aigis will not get mad at the Protagonist for dating another female.

Through the Protagonist' interaction with Aigis, he helps Aigis understands the concept of life, and her confused feelings towards herself and the Protagonist. Upon completing the Social Link, Aigis will give the Protagonist her Charred Screw, bestowing the ultimate form of the Aeon arcana, Metatron.

Battle Quotes

 * Palladion! (Summoning Palladion)
 * Summoning Persona! (Summoning Palladion)
 * Initiating summon sequence. (Summoning Palladion)
 * Proceeding. (Summoning Palladion)
 * It must be eliminated. (After attacking, enemy survives)
 * The enemy is still alive. (After attacking, enemy survives)
 * Providing assistance. (Using an item on a party member)
 * Providing support. (Support skill.)
 * Providing backup. (Revival skill)
 * Locking on. (Regular attack)
 * Let us commence with an All-Out Attack. (Requesting AOA: Palladion)
 * Fatal Strike. (During AOA: Palladion)
 * Damaged!( Be down)
 * Damage sustained! (Be down)
 * When you fall, you get right back up. (Recovering from "down" status)
 * I need your help! (Summoning Athena)
 * Let us strike while the iron's hot. (Requesting AOA: Athena)
 * I can't miss! (During AOA: Athena)
 * I'm sorry... (Knocked out)
 * Hasta la vista! (Using weapon)
 * You won't escape!
 * I won't go down!
 * Enemy annihilated. (Battle Ends: Palladion)
 * Efficiently executed. (Battle Ends: Palladion)
 * I can't lose here! (Battle ends: Athena)
 * Did I succeed in protecting everyone? (Battle Ends: Athena)
 * This is my duty! (Summoning Persona: Athena)
 * This is a sign of my determination. (Summoning Persona: Athena)
 * Time to get serious (recovering from a knock down in P3P)
 * Slash attacks, ineffective. (Enemy resistant to Slash)
 * Strike attacks, ineffective. (Enemy resistant to Strike)
 * Pierce attacks have no effect. (Enemy resistant to Pierce)
 * Fire isn't working. (Enemy resistant to Fire)
 * Ice isn't working. (Enemy resistant to Ice)
 * Wind attacks, aren't working. (Enemy resistant to Wind)
 * Electricity has no effect. (Enemy resistant to Electricity)
 * Light isn't working. (Enemy resistant to Light)
 * Darkness power, ineffective. (Enemy resistant to Darkness)
 * Almighty attacks, aren't working. (Enemy resistant to Almighty)
 * I won't allow this world to be destroyed! (Final Nyx battle)

Trivia

 * The spelling "Aegis" as appears in the original Japanese region titles is technically a misspelling of アイギス in English. The correct spelling, "Aigis" is the acceptable rendering of the original Greek. In fact, Aigis is the preferred spelling of the proper noun by contemporary academic standards.
 * Additionally, Aigis' name, spelled with an "I," forms a pun (on Aigis' A.I., or Artificial Intelligence) that does not exist in the alternate spelling, Aegis.
 * In Greek mythology, Aigis is a shield worn by Pallas Athena. Pallas is an epithet taken by Athena once accidentally killing Pallas, daughter of Triton. In Pallas' memory, Athena erects Palladium, a statue in dedication of Pallas. More corporeal accounts of the Aigis describe a grotesquely ornamented mantle worn over the shoulders and breast, less common a buckler bearing a gorgon's head - or even simultaneously fulfilling both roles. One theory places the Aigis as the remains of Pallas protecting Athena after death. However an Aigis is recorded to have been worn by Zeus and various Greek heroes on occasion, even Mt. Olympus itself is said to be shrouded by the Aigis. In reality there is no central narrative or tradition, but the Aigis, whatever it specifically was, represents the protection of the gods.
 * Initially, when you gain Aigis as an ally at Yakushima, she has no emotion or human feelings. This ir reflected in her dialogue and spoken phrases--in battles, she yells 'Persona' in a monotoned voice. But as she developes human-like emotions, Aigis says 'Persona' and other phrases with more emotion. In The Answer her voice does not change despite that her sister Metis is the emotional side of her she wished away.
 * One of Aigis' goal is to protect The Protagonist. She sometimes she says it like I will always be by your side or My priority it's to always be by his side, which are very similar of what The Heroine and Yuriko say to The Protagonist of Shin Megami Tensei.
 * While perfectly able to understand Koromaru's thoughts at first, Aigis loses this ability little by little when she awakens to the powers of the Wild Card in The Answer. As the Wild Card makes her become more "human", she starts losing some of her mechanical traits: humans can't speak with dogs, so now that Aigis is more like a human, she can't understand dogs anymore.
 * This is also reflected once she welcomes back Metis into the "sea of her soul": as she regains all her human emotions, she also regains the ability to cry and her need to sleep when tired (which is why she collapses as soon as they "combine" again).
 * During battle, Aigis may shout, "Hasta la Vista!" which is a reference to the catchphrase of certain another robotic weapon in The Terminator, a famous science-fiction thriller series.
 * Palladion, Aigis' initial Persona, has a highly robotic appearance, representing Aigis' initial robotic emotions, but as she becomes more human, her ultimate Persona, Pallas Athena, has a more humanoid appearance than Palladion.