<P> After a series of deaths due to malfunctioning gynoids--doll - like sex robots--Section 9 is asked to investigate . As the gynoids all malfunctioned without clear cause, the deaths are believed to be premeditated murders; Batou and Togusa are sent to investigate possible terrorist or political motives . Additionally, the most recent gynoid's remains show they all contained an illegal "ghost". Section 9 concludes human sentience is being artificially duplicated onto the dolls illegally, making the robots more lifelike, and possibly acting as a motive in the murders . </P> <P> Called to a homicide scene, information warfare / technology specialist Ishikawa explains the victim is Jack Walkson, a consignment officer at gynoid company LOCUS SOLUS, who may have been killed by the Yakuza . A previous Yakuza boss was recently killed by a gynoid, so Ishikawa concludes Walkson was held responsible and killed in an act of revenge . Batou and Togusa enter a Yakuza bar to question the current boss, only to be threatened by the bar occupants . Batou opens fire, killing and wounding numerous gang members, including the cyborg that murdered Walkson . The current boss then admits his predecessor was somehow involved in LOCUS SOLUS, but insists he doesn't know how . </P> <P> Entering a store on his way home, Batou is then seemingly warned by the Major and shot in the arm by an unseen assailant . Caught in a firefight, Batou nearly kills the store owner in confusion, but is subdued when Ishikawa appears . While having his damaged arm replaced, Batou is informed by Ishikawa that his e-brain was hacked, causing him to shoot himself and attack the store occupants . Ishikawa explains that Batou was hacked to try and cause further scandal following his Yakuza assault in an attempt to stop the Section 9 investigation . </P> <P> Batou and Togusa then head for the mansion of Kim, a soldier - turned - hacker with an obsession with dolls . Seemingly dead, Kim soon reveals he "lives" inside the shell of a human - sized marionette, and discusses philosophy with his visitors . Kim admits ties to LOCUS SOLUS, divulging that the company has secret headquarters in international waters . Warned again by the Major, Batou realizes that Kim has secretly hacked into his and Togusa's e-brains, and is currently trapping them in a false reality . Resetting Togusa's brain, Batou subdues Kim, noting he knows Kim hacked his brain in the store . </P>

Is the major in ghost in the shell 2