Sisters

Sisters (妹達(シスターズ)) is the collective term used to refer to all the clones of Misaka Mikoto, that were produced from the Sisters Project.

Background

 * Main article:Sisters Project

Mikoto willingly gave a DNA sample to the researchers at the 7th Medical Research Center of the Higuchi Pharmacies, under assumption that they would use it to help children who are unable to control their muscles; using her powers to replicate bio-signs, they had her believe they could control the bioelectrical signal of the body and reroute it to a nerve signal network, meaning the children would be able to gain control of said muscles, thus allowing movement.

This was a complete fabrication, as the true purpose of using Mikoto's DNA was to create a clone of Misaka Mikoto—the 'Railgun'. Before mass production of the clones could begin, the simulation that the Tree Diagram produced showed that it was impossible to create a level 5 clone of Mikoto despite genetic manipulation and use of the Testament. It showed that the clones' specifications reached less than 1% of that of the real Mikoto's, which was equal to that of a level 2. However, the Level 6 Shift program – an experiment designed to make Accelerator, the strongest level 5 in Academy City reach level 6 reused the project. For the experiment, 20,000 clones were produced after Tree Diagram calculated that Accelerator killing Mikoto 128 times in battle, would allow him to achieve level 6; however, since 128 level 5 Mikoto clones could not be prepared, it was calculated by Tree Diagram that Accelerator killing 20,000 clones at level 2-3 would achieve the same results.

Shortly before the termination of the Level 6 Shift and the Sisters project, Misaka 20001, also known Last Order, was created as a fail-safe if ever the clones went out-of-control. This makes Last Order the administrator of the Misaka Network and the superior of every other clone.

After being released from it's cultivation chamber, the clone will look exactly like Mikoto though with longer hair and with the mentality to that of a newborn infant. They are later sent to a Testament machine, where information and emotions are installed into their brains. Their hair is later cut-short into a style similar to that of Mikoto, and they are possibly given missions and orders.

Appearance
In physical appearance, the clones all look almost identical to Mikoto, even down to their clothing –with the exception of panties – and as such, people like Touma have a hard time telling them apart from one another or even from Mikoto for that matter. In all drawn apperances, the clones' eyes are distinctly different from that of Mikoto or Last Order, seeming lifeless, though none of the characters seem to acknowledge or notice this, so it can be assumed that they might be just guidelines for the audience, as so they can differentiate the clones from Mikoto. All known sister clones, except Last Order, have a special set of goggles that they use to track electrons because unlike Mikoto they do not have that ability. The goggles are their most prominent feature and are again used to differentiate them from Mikoto.

Personality
The clones personalities are similar to that of Mikoto. Due to the clones emotions being surpressed – as they are unneccessary to the experiment – one would deduce that they are emotionless, as their expressions often remain the same, though they are in fact not emotionless and can still feel emotions even if they do not understand them. Because of their suppressed emotions, the clones talk in the third person narrative, describing themselves after finishing a sentence.

Initially thinking little of themselves as individuals, and not even identifying themselves as human, the clones later begin developing a sense of self and individuality after the termination of the project. For example, due to sharing the same memories, every single clone falls in love with Touma after he saves a single one of them from Accelerator. They also try to gain the upper-hand in regards to him, such as dieting, and giving him gifts.

Sisters Arc

 * Main article:Sisters Arc

The Sisters Arc chronologically begins in the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun sidestory. Before Mikoto's discovery of the clones, rumors around Academy City began to spread about her having clones. The suspicion grew greater after Mikoto met Nunotoba Shinobu, and was confirmed by Mikoto herself that there were plans to create clones from her DNA, though much to her relief, the project seemed to have stopped before mass production after discovering that it was impossible for the clones to reach Mikoto's current level.

However, things started to turn for the worst when Mikoto discovers the existence of her clones were in fact true, and are being used for the growth of Accelerator into level 6. After the slaying of Misaka 9982 in the hands of Accelerator and him sparing her life due to the intervention of the clones themselves, Mikoto takes it upon herself to stop the experiments, initially sabotaging the research facilities with the use of her hacking and electric abilities, she is later forced to destroy facilities personally after the management of the project has blocked her. However, because of this she is forced to do fight against the underground group, team ITEM who were hired to stop her. Even after coming victorious, and successfully sabotaging another facility involved in the experiment, her efforts were in vain, as the project was distributed were to various facilities. Mikoto later planned to manipulate the information being given by Tree Diagram, as the researchers relied on its computation to determine various things about the experiment. However, Mikoto's plans were completely destroyed after she discovers that Tree Diagram was already destroyed, and that the experiments continue on even without it.

The Toaru Majutsu no Index storyline begins after Mikoto assumed that the experiments have been halted due to her attacks, here, Touma meets Misaka 10031 and from whom Mikoto confirms that the experiments are still on-going despite her efforts. Touma later meets Misaka 10032 and bonds with her, and later through her, discovers the existence of the clones and the experiment with Accelerator. Touma later meets with an anguished Mikoto who just discovered that the Tree Diagram has been destroyed. Here, she plans on sacrificing herself by being killed by Accelerator at the first move, proving Tree Diagram wrong that she would be killed in a set number of moves. Though obviously Touma is against this, and after being electrocuted by Mikoto decides to fight Accelerator himself to prove that he is truly weak, destroying the assumption that Accelerator is the strongest esper. With the help of Mikoto and the clones who she convinced to protect Touma's dream, Accelerator is defeated and the experiment is stopped.

The clones are sent to various facilities for readjustments, as their bodies were deteriorating and their lifespans shortening, due to their accelerated growth through drugs and hormones.

Three Stories Arc

 * Main article:Three Stories Arc

The sisters are again touched upon after the defeat of Accelerator. Here, Last Order is introduced as the 20001st clone, designed to control the Misaka Network, and asks Accelerator to help her find a research facility as so her body can become stable, as she had prematurely escaped her incubation tank. Last Order is later kidnapped by Amai Ao, who installed a virus into her – as is the reason she is escaped her tank – which would make the sister clones go haywire and out-of-control. Using his vector abilities, Accelerator is able to erase the virus from Last Order's mind, however, due to him being busy erasing the virus using his powers, Accelerator was unable to use it to defend himself and is shot by Amai Ao.

After the arc, Accelerator loses half of his computational abilites, as well as the ability to talk properly and his ability to move. Heaven Canceler later uses the Misaka Network to compensate for half of his computational abilities, as well as the ability to talk and move.

Tree Diagram Remnant Arc

 * Main article:Tree Diagram Remnant Arc

The clones quickly gain information regarding the recovery of the Remant of the Tree Diagram. Because of this, they suspect that the Tree Diagram would be rebuilt and the Level 6 Shift would restart. Appearantly their System Administrator, Last Order, is keeping her association with The Accelerator a secret from the Clones.

Despite their concerns with Misaka 10032's well-being, the clones as well as Last order, agree to have Misaka 10032 go ask for help. Here, Misaka 10032 moves out during the night to seek the aid of Kamijou Touma to help them again. Misaka 10032 indeed, was able to ask Touma for help, to which he gladly agreed to her request.

Academy City Invasion Arc

 * Main article:Academy City Invasion Arc

The clones remain helpless as Academy City is consumed by the chaos of Vento of the Front's attack. Here, they are completely frozen, and are only able to telepathically speak to each other through their power after Aleister Crowley activates Fuse KAZAKIRI. Here, they are forced to rely on Accelerator to aid the city, knowing full well that he is using the processing ability of their Network for his calculations.

Baggage City Arc

 * Main article:Baggage City Arc

Following the severing of ties from Academy City by the 27 Cooperative Institutions of Academy City after the events at Hawaii, the Sister clones escaped from their housing units that the institutions provided (as it was tasked after the clones were sent to their institutions after the end of the Level 6 Shift), and erased all known traces of their DNA map in their records using their powers. It was hinted that "someone" gave battle tactics to them in their network, though it is unknown who it was.

Abilities
The sisters are level 3 electromasters, and can generate at least 50,000 volts of electricity, though they are unable to track electrons like Mikoto can, and require goggles in order see them. All sister clones except Last Order, are trained in the use of military standard weapons, such as machine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles and land mines. Their power has been described as possessing 1/20,000 of the 1,000,000,000 volts of Mikoto's Railgun: 50,000 volts of electric potential. As such, although its strength is low, it is not a power that can be made light of.

Additionally, because of their Electromaster status, the clones emit electromagnetic waves from their bodies, though as a consequence, animals such as cats which are more sensitive to such things avoid the sisters.

Radio Noise
Unique to the clones is their ability known as Radio Noise (欠陥電気(レディオノイズ)), which enables them to connect to the Misaka Network (ミサカネットワーク), a brainwave network formed out of their similar brainwave frequency patterns, which is similar to the Level Upper Network, in fact Kiyama Harumi used the idea of espers with the same brainwave frequency patterns from the clones to create the Level Upper, due to it's great processing potential.

With the Misaka Network, the clones can, talk in a quasi-telepathic manner, experience and share the same memories of all the other clones. This shared experiences, as well having the same powers, allows them to become Level 3, and have use their faculties more efficiently. Each clone can willingly withhold information from being passed into the network, though this is seen only after the end of the experiments, when they have already established a sort of self-identity that is separate from each other. As it is similar to the Level Upper Network, using the Misaka Network, each individual clone mind connected to the network can be used for calculating purposes. This ability was used by Heaven Canceler to help Accelerator regain half of his calculating ability, after being shot in the head and suffering brain damage.

Similarly, like the Level Upper Network, the Misaka Network can be used to summon an Artificial Angel. Here, Last Order can be installed a program that would force her to use the brainwave network of the Misaka clones (which renders them immobile) to help her manifest and control Fuse KAZAKIRI from Kazakiri Hyouka the manifestation of all of the AIM dispersions of espers in Academy City.

List of known clones produced from the project

 * Misaka 00000 (Full-Tuning)
 * Misaka 1
 * Misaka 9982
 * Misaka 10031
 * Misaka 10032
 * Misaka 10039
 * Misaka 10050
 * Misaka 10777
 * Misaka 10090
 * Misaka 10501
 * Misaka 10840
 * Misaka 10855
 * Misaka 11899
 * Misaka 12053
 * Misaka 12083
 * Misaka 12481
 * Misaka 13072
 * Misaka 13577
 * Misaka 14333
 * Misaka 15110
 * Misaka 15113
 * Misaka 15327
 * Misaka 16836
 * Misaka 17000
 * Misaka 17009
 * Misaka 17203
 * Misaka 17403
 * Misaka 18022
 * Misaka 18072
 * Misaka 19009
 * Misaka 19090
 * Misaka 19348
 * Misaka 19900
 * Misaka 19999
 * Misaka 20000
 * Misaka 20001 (Last Order)

Omake clones
 * Misaka 20002
 * Misaka 50020

Design evolution
The clone's design has remained static throughout all their appearances, barring characters such as Misaka 10032, and clones that are forced with different clothes due to weather.

Their designs are based off Mikoto's design, though they do not retain the light in the eyes, and blush, as it is apparent often in Mikoto's design. With the goggles, Haimura's first draft thought they were lame, and as such, changed it before drawing the illustrations. Their looks were deliberate as so the reader will not get confused when the clones are next to Mikoto.